Colorado: 139.5K QHPs thru 12/18

Hot off the presses from the Colorado exchange (CO is one of six states which stuck with the original January enrollment deadline):

DENVER — More than 144,000 Coloradans selected healthcare coverage for 2017 through the state health insurance Marketplace through Sunday, December 18, a rate 18 percent ahead of signups one year ago, according to new data released today by Connect for Health Colorado®.

“We have seen a definite increase in the pace of sign-ups during the first half of this Open Enrollment period,” said Connect for Health Colorado CEO Kevin Patterson.  “These Coloradans have protected their health and their finances with healthcare coverage next year. I encourage anyone who does not yet have health insurance for 2017 to go to our site, Connectforhealthco.com, check to see if they qualify for financial assistance, review the available plans, and complete an enrollment. They can have coverage in place February 1 if they act by January 15.”

In the first month and a half of the annual Open Enrollment period, Coloradans selected 144,692 medical and/or dental insurance plans (139,509 were medical plan selections). Eighty percent of the plan selections are renewing customers and 20 percent are new to the Marketplace.

Whether you are renewing or enrolling for the first time, you must complete enrollment by January 15, to have coverage February 1. Open Enrollment runs through January 31.

Anyone who began an application for January coverage before Thursday’s deadline but did not finish the process should call 855-752-6749 for assistance before completing their enrollment.

Key dates and deadlines for individuals and families buying private coverage 

• Open Enrollment: November 1, 2016-January 31, 2017.  
• You cannot purchase health insurance after this period unless you have a qualifying life-change event, such as marriage, divorce, having a child, losing your employer-sponsored insurance, or moving to Colorado.
•  Last day to enroll for coverage beginning January 1, 2017, is December 15, 2016.
•  Last day to enroll for 2017 coverage (without a life change event):  January 31, 2017.

I was a bit confused by the 139.5K QHP figure since my last update from just a couple of days ago had the CO exchange at just half that amount. However, the fact that they tacked on 3 extra days to the total (through 12/18 instead of 12/15) suggests that the higher number includes the auto-renewals of the remaining current enrollees as well.

Last year, Connect for Health Colorado enrolled 150,769 people during open enrollment. My projection for this year is 165,000, so they've hit about 85% of that to date.