50% of Missourians enroll in 2015 health insurance Marketplace plans

In just four weeks since the Missouri Health Insurance Marketplace opened, 102,087 Missourians enrolled in 2015 health plans according to a report released today by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS). Half – 50 percent – are new enrollees. Comparatively, 152,335 people enrolled in Missouri Marketplace plans during the entire 2014 open enrollment period.

"Cover Missouri is encouraged so many Missourians have already enrolled or reenrolled in 2015 Marketplace plans," said Nancy Kelley, Program Director, Missouri Foundation for Health, speaking on behalf of the Cover Missouri Coalition. "Such high numbers this early in the enrollment period suggest we're going to make great strides in reducing Missouri's uninsured rate in 2015."

Equally impressive to current enrollment totals is the number of Missourians who will receive financial assistance paying for insurance next year. The vast majority, 89 percent, qualified for premium tax credits and/or cost-sharing reductions that will lower their coverage costs.

Missouri also fared well compared to other states in terms of total enrollees. It ranked 10th in total enrollees among the 37 states using the HealthCare.gov federal Marketplace platform. Nationwide, more than 4 million Americans selected new coverage or were automatically reenrolled in 2015 Marketplace plans as of Dec. 15, 2014, one-fifth from rural areas. The number of Missourians who were auto reenrolled is not available yet.

ENROLLMENT DEADLINES FOR 2015 COVERAGE

Since the Missouri Marketplace opened this past November, Cover Missouri – a coalition of more than 675 health care providers, community-based organizations, businesses and national organizations – has been working statewide to educate consumers on their Marketplace plan options and assist them with enrollment before the deadline to obtain coverage.

Although the Dec. 15 deadline has passed for enrolling in Marketplace plans starting on Jan. 1, 2015, there's still time to obtain coverage for next year to avoid a financial penalty. Key dates for consumers to know include:

• If you enroll between Dec. 16 and Jan. 15, your coverage begins on Feb. 1.
• If you enroll between Jan. 16 and Feb. 15, your coverage will begin March 1.