Federal Exchange Is Beating States In Enrolling New Customers
Officials say more than 7 million Americans have signed up for coverage so far using the health law's marketplaces -- more than 6.5 million of them through the federal exchange. But the health law brings new challenges in some places like Kentucky and Idaho.
The New York Times:
Health Insurance Enrollment Strongest In Federal Marketplace
The Obama administration on Tuesday reported a big increase in new customers signing up for health insurance in Florida, Texas and other states using the federal insurance marketplace. But in states running their own insurance exchanges, the numbers were more modest. ... The report showed the importance of subsidies to people seeking coverage under the Affordable Care Act. Officials said that 87 percent of those selecting health plans for next year in the federal exchange had qualified for subsidies that would reduce their premiums. (Pear, 12/30)
The Washington Post:
At Least 7.1M Signed Up For 2015 Obamacare Plans So Far
As of Dec. 26, 6.5 million people signed up for coverage in federally run exchanges — that includes new enrollments, people actively re-enrolling and existing customers who allowed their coverage to automatically renew, according to the Department of Health and Human Services' weekly enrollment update. A second HHS report, which provides the most comprehensive look at the new enrollment period so far, found that 633,000 people selected coverage in the 14 states running their own health insurance marketplaces as of Dec. 15. That's in addition to those who signed up through the federal exchanges, for a total of roughly 7.1 million. (Millman, 12/30)
Kansas Health Institute News Service:
At Least Half Of Healthcare.gov Enrollees In Kansas, Missouri Are New
At least half of Kansans and Missourians who signed up for 2015 health insurance through the Affordable Care Act insurance marketplaces are new consumers, according to recently released data. (Margolies, 1/2)
The Baltimore Sun:
Some Forced To Buy On Health Insurance Exchanges For The First Time
The outrage was swift and loud. Millions of people were feared to be in danger of losing their health insurance last year because their plans did not comply with the Affordable Care Act. To keep people covered and quell consumer anger, President Barack Obama and many states allowed people to renew their old plans temporarily — including 73,000 in Maryland. But that offer has expired and now people like Raymond Liu have been thrust onto health exchanges where they must purchase new plans. (Cohn, 1/4)
The New York Times:
Success Of Kentucky’s Health Plan Comes With New Obstacles
In many ways, Kentucky, a poor state with a starkly unhealthy populace, has become a symbol of the Affordable Care Act’s potential. Largely because the state chose to expand Medicaid, the drop in the uninsured rate has been among the sharpest in the nation. Hospital revenues are up, health care jobs are multiplying and far more Kentuckians are getting preventive checkups and screenings, according to state officials. (Goodnough, 12/29)
The Associated Press:
Idaho Health Care Call Center To Lay Off 1,500
A technology company says it will lay off more than 1,500 employees at a Boise call center where workers handle questions about the federal health care law. The Idaho Statesman reports that Maximus Inc. has hired, laid off and rehired hundreds of employees at the call center since 2013. (1/3)
