A record number of Marylanders signed up for coverage on the state's Health Benefits Exchange during this year's open enrollment period, exchange leaders announced at a press conference Thursday.
During the open enrollment period that began Nov. 1 and ended Monday, 213,895 people enrolled for insurance through the state's health insurance marketplace, Maryland Health Connection. That's 17% more than the 182,166 Marylanders who enrolled last year, said Michele Hebert, executive director of the Maryland Health Benefits Exchange.
The increase in enrollment has been particularly strong among people who have historically lacked health insurance. The number of people who identify as black on applications increased by nearly a third, and the number of people who identify as Hispanic increased by nearly 30 percent. The increase among black and Hispanic youth was even more dramatic, with enrollment increasing by 46% for blacks between the ages of 18 and 34 and by 50% for Hispanics in the same group.
“Premiums for people with private health insurance in 2024 will once again be among the lowest in the nation,” Ebert said. “Our gold and bronze health plans have the lowest rates in the nation, and our silver plans are the third lowest in the nation. That's amazing.”
Andy Ratner, the exchange's chief of staff, said in a press conference that several factors contributed to the dramatic increase in enrollment.
As an example, when the public health emergency ended last year and the accompanying COVID-19 era Medicaid coverage flexibility, tens of thousands of Marylanders lost eligibility or were procedurally challenged. I lost my insurance because of this.
Ryan Moran, the state's deputy health care finance secretary and director of the Maryland Medicaid Bureau, said the state reached an important milestone in November. Over 900,000 updates were processed. That's half of the 1.8 million Marylanders who were eligible for Medicaid at the start of the so-called mitigation, for which the state had to re-determine eligibility.
Moran said the state referred about 90,000 people who applied for renewal to low-cost coverage through the exchange's Maryland Health Connection.
“I believe that together we have achieved great things, and that is why we celebrate today. But we also want to remain vigilant that our journey does not end here.” he said. “It is very important to us, along with our community, to keep personal contact information up-to-date, including home address, phone number, and email, so that we can reach those people. That is essential.”
More than 14,000 people who were no longer eligible for Medicaid enrolled in private health insurance through Maryland Health Connection after the public health emergency ended, Ratner said. This number is significantly higher than last year, when about 3,000 people transitioned from Medicaid to private plans during the offering period, the exchange said in a news release Thursday.
The Maryland General Assembly's extension last year of a pilot program to help young people receive special discounts on health insurance may also have boosted enrollment. Maryland Health Connection has expanded the program, which last year offered discounts to people ages 18 to 34, to also serve people ages 18 to 37. This year, more than 50,000 people in this age group were eligible for financial assistance, and the program lowered their benefits. On average, health insurance premiums will increase by about $450 a year, according to a news release.
Ratner said getting more young people into the health insurance market “reduces risk and lowers costs for everyone.”
2021 marks the third year since the American Rescue Plan Act was passed, increasing and expanding federal tax credits. Under the Inflation Control Act passed by Congress in 2022, the enhanced subsidies will continue to benefit participants through 2025.
The state's reinsurance program, which reimburses insurers for a portion of the cost for patients who need the most expensive treatments, also helps lower premiums and brings more insurers to market, Ratner said. He is said to have contributed to. For the first time this year, Marylanders can purchase plans on the exchange from Aetna as well as previous market participants CareFirst, Kaiser Permanente and United Healthcare.
More Marylanders enrolled in marketplace dental plans this year, with approximately 298 enrolling in vision plans. This is the first time the exchange has offered this.
Even though the open enrollment period ends, many Marylanders will still have the opportunity to enroll in insurance. People who check the box on their state income tax return that says they need health insurance can enroll in a program offered through the Maryland State Comptroller's Office, and people who lose their jobs and apply for unemployment insurance can also enroll in a program offered through the Maryland Comptroller's Office. , you can check the box during the period. Application process for requesting health insurance assistance.
