Charles Gaba's blog

via Covered California:

Los Angeles, Calif. — Covered California kicked off its 2024 open-enrollment period at the iconic Los Angeles State Historic Park and Roundhouse Bridge, a public space that serves some of the most vulnerable communities in the state, with roots that connect back to the early history of the city and region…

Covered California Executive Director Jessica Altman was joined by California Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly and Assemblymember Miguel Santiago of California’s 54th district to launch open enrollment. They highlighted how record financial help — through enhanced federal premium support and a new program in California that will reduce out-of-pocket costs for over 650,000 consumers — is bridging the gap between uninsured Californians and access to affordable coverage and quality care.

Via MNsure (via email; no link yet):

• If you need health insurance, MNsure can help

ST. PAUL, Minn.—MNsure’s open enrollment period starts today and runs through January 15, 2024. Open enrollment is the annual opportunity for Minnesotans who need health insurance to shop and compare their options for 2024, sign up for coverage, or change plans through MNsure, Minnesota’s health insurance marketplace.

For over ten years, MNsure has served tens of thousands of Minnesotans who are self-employed or gig workers, entrepreneurs and small business owners, farmers, early retirees who don’t yet qualify for Medicare, and those who don’t have access to affordable health insurance through their jobs. MNsure has delivered nearly $2 billion in health care savings to Minnesotans since 2013 and is the trusted source for families looking for medical and dental plans that meet their needs and budgets.

via the Massachusetts Health Connector:

• The deadline for coverage beginning January 1 is December 23, 2023, but residents have until January 23 to apply for 2024 coverage

BOSTON, November 1, 2023 – Open Enrollment for 2024 health plans through the Massachusetts Health Connector starts today, with expanded access for tens of thousands of newly-eligible Massachusetts residents to the landmark ConnectorCare program that already helps 156,000 people access more affordable coverage.

Open Enrollment is when anyone who needs health insurance can find coverage through the Health Connector, the Commonwealth’s official health insurance Marketplace. Open Enrollment runs through Jan. 23, but the deadline to start the New Year with coverage is Dec. 23. People who need health insurance can go to MAhealthconnector.org to apply and enroll in coverage. They can also find community-based support in dozens of languages to assist with completing an application.

via the NJ Dept. of Banking & Insurance:

• 9 in 10 people Who Enroll Will Qualify for Savings; Many Pay $10 a Month or Less for Health Coverage

• Residents Can View Available Plans and See if They Qualify for Financial Help Now at GetCovered.NJ.gov

TRENTON — Governor Phil Murphy and New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance Acting Commissioner Justin Zimmerman today announced that the annual Open Enrollment Period at Get Covered New Jersey (GetCovered.NJ.gov), the state’s Official Health Insurance Marketplace, has begun. Consumers will continue to benefit from historic levels of financial help that remain available and more health plan options with an additional insurance company offering plans on the marketplace.

via the Washington HealthPlan Finder:

From Nov. 1, 2023 – Jan. 15, 2024, Washingtonians can shop for and purchase qualified health and dental plans and secure insurance for 2024. Olympia

Today, Washington Health Benefit Exchange (Exchange) is launching the annual WA HealthPlanFinder open enrollment period, with an offering of 82 health care plans and 12 dental plans that comply with the requirements of the Affordable Care Act. When people shop WA HealthPlanFinder , federal and state subsidies based on income are automatically applied.

via Maryland Health Connection:

Compare 2024 health plans and prices at Maryland Health Connection

BALTIMORE (Nov. 1, 2023) – Marylanders can now enroll in health plans for 2024 at Maryland Health Connection, the state’s health insurance marketplace.

Open enrollment runs from Nov. 1, 2023, through Jan. 15, 2024. Coverage starts Jan. 1, 2024, for plans selected before Dec. 31, and coverage starts on Feb. 1, 2024, for plans selected the first two weeks of January. This open enrollment period is for private plans only. Those who qualify for Medicaid may enroll any time of year.

“Life can feel unpredictable - be it losing a job, losing Medicaid coverage following the end of the public health emergency, moving to Maryland, turning 26 and aging out of your parent’s plan, or deciding to be your own boss.” said Michele Eberle, executive director of the Maryland Health Benefit Exchange. “Maryland Health Connection has free or low-cost plans to give you peace of mind.”

via Access Health CT:

Connecticut residents can shop, compare and enroll in quality health insurance plans from Nov. 1, 2023 through Jan. 15, 2024

HARTFORD, Conn. (Nov. 1, 2023) — Access Health CT (AHCT) today announced the Open Enrollment period will take place Nov. 1, 2023 to Jan. 15, 2024 for health insurance plans for 2024. Connecticut residents can shop, compare, and enroll or renew their health insurance plans with coverage beginning in the 2024 plan year.

Customers must enroll on or before Dec. 15, 2023 for coverage to begin Jan. 1, 2024. Customers who enroll between Dec. 16, 2023 and Jan. 15, 2024 will have coverage starting Feb. 1, 2024.

AHCT is the only place Connecticut residents can qualify for financial help to lower health insurance costs. Open Enrollment gives customers the opportunity to review health coverage options to ensure they are making the best choice that meets their individual needs and budgets.

via Connect for Health Colorado:

DENVER — Open Enrollment for 2024 health insurance coverage starts today in Colorado, and people can expect more savings than ever before due to federal changes and innovative state programs.

Save on Monthly Costs

As the state’s official health insurance marketplace, Connect for Health Coloradois the only place where residents can qualify for and receive financial help for their health insurance.

The American Rescue Plan Act, which passed in 2021 and provides enhanced Advance Premium Tax Credits, is still in effect. That means people can continue to expect a higher level of financial help and people with higher incomes can now qualify. Currently, 77 percent of Connect for Health Colorado customers get financial help to lower the cost of health insurance. This year, three out of five Connect for Health Colorado enrollees will have a plan available to them with a premium of less than $10 per month.

via the New Hampshire Insurance Dept:

New Hampshire Insurance Department Announces the Launch of 2024 Open Enrollment Period for Affordable Care Act Individual Marketplace and Releases 2024 Premium Rates

CONCORD, NH (October 31, 2023) – Today, the New Hampshire Insurance Department (NHID) kicked off the Open Enrollment Period for Granite Staters who are seeking individual health coverage on the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Individual Marketplace. The Open Enrollment Period runs from Tuesday, November 1, 2023, through Sunday, January 15, 2024.

“This is a significant opportunity for Granite Staters who do not have health insurance through their employer, Medicare, or Medicaid to enroll in the Individual Marketplace,” said New Hampshire Insurance Commissioner DJ Bettencourt. “For the fourth consecutive year, the 1332 Waiver has resulted in premiums for the individual market being the lowest in New England, ensuring more individuals have access to the healthcare they need.”

The Ohio Insurance Department does this weird thing where they list all of the carriers offering policies on the individual market and list the weighted average year over year premium change...but they don't list the actual rate increases for each carrier. Fortunately, federal Rate Review site includes the rate changes, and the SERFF database for Ohio includes the actual enrollment numbers for all of the individual market carriers except one.

As a result, I've been able to put together a weighted average requested rate increase for the individual market (I estimated the one missing enrollment number based on the overall Ohio indy market total); it comes in at 7.6%.

For the small group market, I have to go with an unweighted average of +10.8%. It's also worth noting that, once again, Humana appears to be bailing on the entire small group market nationally from what I can tell.

UPDATE 10/31/23: The Ohio Insurance Dept. has posted a summary of the weighted average rate increase for the individual market as being slightly higher than the preliminary requests (+7.8% vs. 7.6%):

Premiums for 2024 are projected to increase compared to 2023 - though individual companies' rates will vary from the average.

Weighted average annual premiums for the individual market for 2024 are projected to be $7,010.20. In 2023 weighted average annual premiums were $6,500.65. - an increase of 7.84%.

The final/approved rates are also now posted at the federal Rate Review website...and they've barely changed at all. Yet the official weighted average is slightly higher than I had estimated earlier.

The same is true of the small group market...only 2 carriers (Medical Mutual and Paramount) had their requested changes modified, and even then it was only by a hair apiece.