Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
HHS Touts Strong Enrollment Numbers In Coveted Young Adult Demographic
The Associated Press: Report: More Young Adults Signing Up For Obama Health Law
Midway through sign-up season, more young adults are getting coverage through President Barack Obama's health care law. The number of new customers is also trending higher, officials said Tuesday in an upbeat report. Outside analysts who reviewed the administration's update said it reflects encouraging progress, but that may not dispel questions about the long-term future of the health insurance markets created under Obama's 2010 overhaul. Premiums have been going up and getting new sign-ups remains a challenge. ... And 2.1 million [enrollees] are under age 35, a coveted demographic because young adults tend to be healthy and their participation helps keep premiums in check. (Alonso-Zaldivar, 12/23)
The Wall Street Journal: HealthCare.gov Users Hit 8.2 Million
Some 71% of the site’s enrollees—around 5.8 million—had coverage renewed, and 29%—or about 2.4 million—had been first-time buyers, HHS said. Federal officials have seen a flurry of activity around a Dec. 15 deadline to buy or switch existing coverage that would take effect Jan. 1, and offered a two-day extension to accommodate the late crush on the site. (Radnofsky, 12/22)
USA Today: Healthcare.gov Enrollment Up About One Third Over Last Year
More than 8.2 million consumers signed up for health coverage through HealthCare.gov or had their coverage automatically renewed, as millions more selected plans through state-based market places, the Department of Health and Human Services said Tuesday. It's about a one-third improvement from this time last year, when about 6.4 million had signed up for coverage or been automatically renewed. Healthcare.gov handles the enrollment for 38 states. (O'Donnell, 12/23)
The Hill: ObamaCare Sign-Ups Pass 8 Million, Outpacing Last Year's Total
The quicker pace likely indicates people are seeking to avoid the higher cost of being uninsured in 2016. People without insurance by tax season will face far steeper penalties, almost double the fee from the previous year. (Ferris, 12/22)
The Washington Post: 2 Million Current ACA Enrollees Ignore Advice To Return To HealthCare.gov
More than 2 million existing customers with insurance under the Affordable Care Act have had coverage renewed automatically for 2016 by HealthCare.gov, after they ignored government warnings to shop around to avoid surprise spikes in prices of health plans. (Goldstein, 12/22)
In other health exchange news, sick patients took a toll on co-op plans —
Modern Healthcare: Extremely Sick Newcomers, Risk Corridor Shortfalls Sink Co-Op Plans
Sick, costly patients who never had health insurance or had it only intermittently battered the finances of the not-for-profit co-op plans over the past two years, three co-op leaders said during an industry call this week. In many instances, those patients received expensive cancer treatments for the first time or got a transplant. (Herman, 12/22)
