Today, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the weekly enrollment snapshot through the Dec. 15 midnight Eastern Time deadline for the 2019 Open Enrollment Period, and the preliminary data show enrollment remained steady. Open Enrollment for 2019 coverage ended with approximately 8.5 million people enrolled compared to 8.8 million people at the same time last year. These numbers are preliminary and do not represent final 2019 Exchange Open Enrollment figures.
“This Administration has taken strong steps to promote a more competitive, stable health insurance market and these steady enrollment numbers are yet another sign that the administration’s efforts are working,” said Administrator Seema Verma. “With the lowest unemployment rate in 50 years, it’s possible that more Americans have employer based coverage, and don’t need exchange plans.
In 2018, employment increased by two million in states using the HealthCare.gov platform. Nationally, 90 percent of U.S. workers are employed by a firm that offers health benefits to at least some of its workers. In addition, due to the expansion of the state’s Medicaid population, CMS estimates that approximately 100,000 current exchange enrollees in Virginia will be eligible for expanded Medicaid.
“While enrollment remained steady through HealthCare.gov, many Americans don’t qualify for subsidies on HealthCare.gov and remain priced out of the insurance market. At the end of the day, lower premiums will lead to increased enrollment,” said Verma.
Similar to previous years, there was a surge in the number of consumers contacting the Exchange Call Center and visiting HealthCare.gov during the final days of Open Enrollment. Due to this surge, there were some consumers who had to leave their contact information at the Call Center. CMS has already begun the process of reaching out to those consumers. Any plan selections from these consumers are not reflected in the enrollment data released today.