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Plan selections in the 33 states that use the federal exchange, Healthcare.gov, are up 5% from an essentially comparable period last year, the agency said. The data is for the first five weeks of open enrollment, which began November 1 and runs through January 15, a month longer than under the Trump administration.
In the 12 states that have not expanded Medicaid to low-income adults, sign ups have increased 9%. Plan selections are up 20% in Texas and 9% in Florida, the two largest markets on the federal exchange.
Several states that run their own exchanges are also seeing brisk business. Plan selections in New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Vermont have jumped more than 15% from last year, the agency said. These figures are for the first four weeks of open enrollment, which included one additional day last year.
Three states — Kentucky, Maine and New Mexico — set up their own marketplaces for 2022, instead of using Healthcare.gov to enroll residents.
Nearly 4.6 million people have signed up for 2022 health coverage on the federal and state-based exchanges so far. A comparable figure for last year is not available because this is the first time the agency is releasing state marketplace data during the initial weeks of open enrollment.
“Thanks to our unprecedented outreach campaigns and investments from the American Rescue Plan, millions of people across the nation are gaining health insurance with lower premiums and more choices than ever,” said Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra.
Generous subsidies
Some 95% of consumers signing up on the federal exchange for 2022 policies are getting subsidies to lower their monthly premiums. The number of customers obtaining coverage for $10 or less a month, after assistance, has nearly doubled compared to the same period last year.
For this year and next, enrollees pay no more than 8.5% of their income toward coverage, down from nearly 10%. And lower-income policyholders receive subsidies that eliminate their premiums.
Also, those earning more than 400% of the federal poverty level — about $51,000 for an individual and $104,800 for a family of four in 2021 — are now eligible for help for the first time.
Record enrollment for 2021
Americans who want coverage to begin on January 1 must select a policy by December 15.
Consumers are not considered enrolled in policies until they pay their first month’s premium.