In Texas 1,205,174 consumers are enrolled in 2015 Health Insurance Marketplace coverage

In Texas, 1,205,174 consumers selected or were automatically re-enrolled in quality, affordable health insurance coverage through the Health Insurance Marketplace as of Feb. 22, according to a report released today by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.  Of the consumers with a Marketplace plan selection, 85 percent (1,036,450 people) qualified for an average tax credit of $239 per month and 68 percent paid $100 or less per month after tax credits.  In Texas, 92 percent of individuals with a Marketplace plan selection had the option of selecting a plan for $100 or less per month.

In Texas, 468,797 consumers under the age of 35 are signed up for Marketplace coverage (39 percent of all plan selections compared to 38 percent of plan selections at the end of 2014 Open Enrollment).  And 348,593 consumers 18 to 34 years of age (29 percent of all plan selections) are signed up for Marketplace coverage. 

“The figures released today tell a story of health coverage consumers rely on for financial and health security – and of coverage they don’t want to lose,” said Secretary Sylvia M. Burwell. “In Texas 1,036,450 Marketplace consumers qualified for tax credits to make their coverage affordable and accessible.  People who come to the Marketplace for coverage are actively engaged and shopping for the product that’s best for them and their families.  The Affordable Care Act is working and we’re grateful to the volunteers, assisters, navigators, local officials, Members of Congress and many national organizations who joined this effort across the country.”

Marketplace consumers in Texas this year were more active, engaged, and eager for coverage than consumers in other insurance marketplaces –

• 57 percent of plan selections (686,949) in Texas are new consumers who did not have Marketplace coverage as of Nov. 2014, and 43 percent (681,521 people) are consumers who re-enrolled in Marketplace coverage. 
• Of the 681,521 consumers who were re-enrolled in 2015 Marketplace coverage, 258,760 (21 percent) came back to the Marketplace, updated their information and actively selected a plan. 
• Of the 258,760 active re-enrollees, 133,710 switched to a different plan than they had in 2014 – that’s 52 percent of active re-enrollees and 20 percent of all re-enrollees.  This is a much higher proportion than seen in other programs.  For example, studies show that approximately 13 percent of Medicare Part D enrollees change plans in a given year, and only about 7.5 percent of those with employer sponsored coverage switch plans for reasons other than a job change.

Nationwide, nearly 11.7 million consumers selected a plan or were automatically enrolled in Marketplace coverage.  Of those, 8.84 million (76 percent) were in states using the HealthCare.gov platform (like Texas) and 2.85 million (24 percent) were in the 14 states (including Washington, D.C.) using their own Marketplace platforms.  Nearly 7.7 million individuals with a plan selection in the states using HealthCare.gov qualified for an average tax credit of $263 per month and more than half (55 percent) paid $100 or less per month after tax credits.

Nationwide, more than 4.1 million consumers under the age of 35 are signed up for Marketplace coverage (35 percent of all plan selections compared to 34 percent of plan selections at the end of 2014 Open Enrollment).  And nearly 3.3 million consumers 18 to 34 years of age are signed up for Marketplace coverage.  As in 2014, that’s 28 percent of all plan selections.

Today’s report includes data for individuals who selected or were automatically re-enrolled in coverage through Feb. 21 for 12 states and Washington, D.C. using their own Marketplace platforms and through Feb. 22 for the 37 states using the HealthCare.gov platform (including Oregon and Nevada), as well as California which is a State based Marketplace.

Today’s report does not include information on effectuated enrollment. To have their coverage effectuated, consumers need to pay their first month’s health plan premium.

Open Enrollment in the Marketplace ended on Feb. 15.  Consumers should visit HealthCare.gov to see if they qualify for a Special Enrollment Period because of a life change like marriage, having a baby or losing other coverage.  Enrollment in Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program is also open year round. 

Beginning March 15 CMS will offer a Special Enrollment Period to consumers in HealthCare.gov states who are subject to the fee for not having health care coverage in 2014, but who were unaware of or didn’t understand the implications of the new requirement.  Visit HealthCare.gov to learn more.  Find local help at: Localhelp.healthcare.gov/. Or call the Federally-facilitated Marketplace Call Center at 1-800-318-2596. TTY users should call 1-855- 889-4325. Translation services are available. The call is free. 

To read the monthly enrollment report visit: http://aspe.hhs.gov/health/reports/2015/MarketPlaceEnrollment/Mar2015/ib_2015mar_enrollment.pdf