Massachusetts: Health Connector ends busiest Open Enrollment in a decade w/30% y/y enrollment increase

via the Massachusetts Health Connector:

Massachusetts Health Connector ends busiest Open Enrollment in a decade with more than 72,000 new enrollments

Marketplace enrollment increases dramatically by 40 percent in the last year

BOSTON – More than 72,000 people enrolled in new health insurance plans with the Massachusetts Health Connector during Open Enrollment 2024, which ended on January 23. This is the largest number of new enrollments in a decade, continuing a rapid increase in overall Health Connector enrollment, which has surged by 40 percent in the last year.

Note: as the next paragraph states, the 40% increase refers to total effectuated enrollment as of today versus total effectuated enrollment as of February 2023. When you include total QHPs and divide it last open enrollment periods total QHPs, which is my and CMS's standard methodology, it's a 30% year over year increase. I've been informed that there are an additional 7,713 enrollees who haven't actually paid their first premium yet.

Since February 2023, Health Connector individual health coverage enrollment has grown from 209,000 to 294,000 – a total increase of 85,000. Contributing to the surge in enrollment was this year’s historic ConnectorCare expansion – increasing the eligibility limit from 300 percent of the federal poverty level to 500 percent. During this year’s Open Enrollment, more than 43,000 current and new members moved into these new ConnectorCare plans. The Health Connector currently delivers individual (non-group) or small-business health insurance and dental coverage to more than 335,000 Massachusetts residents.

The ongoing Medicaid redetermination process with MassHealth also continued to propel enrollment, with more than 25,000 people entering Health Connector coverage in January 2024 or February 2024 from MassHealth. Since redeterminations began in April 2023, more than 90,000 people have transitioned to Health Connector coverage after being no longer eligible for MassHealth.

“Massachusetts has been a national leader in health coverage for nearly 20 years, and we’re so pleased to see even more people than ever before signing up for affordable health coverage through the Health Connector this Open Enrollment,” said Audrey Morse Gasteier, the Executive Director of the Massachusetts Health Connector. “We look forward this year to continuing to be there for and covering Massachusetts residents when they need high-quality, affordable health insurance if they are no longer eligible for MassHealth, are new to Massachusetts, or need coverage for any reason.”

People can still enroll for Health Connector plans outside of the Open Enrollment period for a variety of reasons, including losing existing coverage, moving into the state, and qualifying for ConnectorCare coverage. This includes people who may be found ineligible for MassHealth during the ongoing redeterminations process, which is scheduled to be completed by end of the March 2024.

Residents who need coverage can go to MAhealthconnector.org to update their current account or create a new account if they do not have an existing one. Help is also available to complete an application or enroll in a plan. Applicants with questions or needing assistance can contact the Health Connector at 877-MA-ENROLL (TTY: 877-623-7773), or find a local Navigator that can provide in-person or virtual help in their community in 29 languages. Navigators can be found MAhealthconnector.org/help-center.