March Effectuated Enrollment Consistent with Department’s 2015 Goal

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 2, 2015

Contact: HHS Press Office

202-690-6343

March Effectuated Enrollment Consistent with Department’s 2015 Goal

Nearly 8.7 million people nationwide received an average tax credit of $272 per month to make their health coverage more affordable

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services today released a data snapshot providing a detailed look at how many consumers paid their premiums in 2015 and had “effectuated” coverage in March 2015. During Open Enrollment for 2015 Marketplace coverage, through February 22, about 11.7 million Americans selected plans through the Marketplaces. On March 31, 2015, about 10.2 million consumers had “effectuated” coverage which means those individuals paid for Marketplace coverage and still have an active policy on that date.  Nearly 8.7 million (85 percent) consumers nationwide and 6.4 million consumers in the 34 states with Federally-facilitated Marketplaces received an average premium tax credit of $272 per month to make their premiums more affordable throughout the year.  About 6.3 million consumers were enrolled in health coverage through the Marketplaces and had paid their premiums on December 31, 2014.

“The Health Insurance Marketplaces are working,” said HHS Secretary Sylvia Burwell. “Thanks to the Affordable Care Act, millions of Americans now rely on the health and financial security that comes from affordable coverage through the Marketplaces. We’ve seen a historic reduction in the uninsured and consumers are finding the coverage they need at a price they can afford.”

In November 2014, the Department set a goal of 9.1 million effectuated enrollees at the end of calendar year 2015.  The March 2015 effectuated enrollment number is consistent with meeting the Department’s goal for 2015 effectuated enrollment.

In each quarter of 2015, CMS plans to release Marketplace state-by-state enrollment snapshots detailing how many consumers have an effectuated enrollment at a particular point in time and the number of those consumers receiving financial assistance through an advanced payment of the premium tax credit and through cost-sharing reductions.  Today’s snapshot includes information for all 50 states and Washington, DC.  Effectuated enrollment for the 34 states that are part of the Federally-facilitated Marketplaces on March 31, 2015 was 7.3 million and for State-based Marketplaces, including New Mexico, Nevada, and Oregon who are State-based Marketplaces using the HealthCare.gov platform, effectuated enrollment was 2.9 million.

The Marketplace effectuated enrollment snapshot provides point-in-time estimates of individuals who effectuated their enrollment and have an active policy on that date; it does not measure the rate at which consumers pay their first month’s premium. As is the case in other well-functioning insurance markets, CMS expects these numbers to change over time in response to changes in consumer needs and life circumstances such as employment status or marriage, which may cause consumers to newly enroll in, change, or cancel their plans. Studies continue to show high satisfaction rates among Marketplace customers.
To read today’s data snapshot on the number of consumers in each state who paid their premiums in 2014 and 2015, please click here.

For information on the number of consumers in each state who selected a plan or were automatically reenrolled in quality, affordable coverage through the Health Insurance Marketplaces during Open Enrollment, please click here.

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