More than 153,000 Coloradans Enrolled in Health Insurance So Far; Less than Four Weeks Remain to Enroll for 2020 Coverage
DENVER — More than 153,000 Coloradans signed up for a health insurance plan through Connect for Health Colorado’s Marketplace by Dec. 18, 2019. Approximately 68 percent of applicants qualify for financial help to lower monthly premium costs.
“I am encouraged by the pace of sign-ups so far,” said Connect for Health Colorado® CEO Kevin Patterson. “However, it’s not too late to get covered for 2020. I urge you to take advantage of the final deadline and all the support we offer by visiting our site, giving us a call, or finding local help in your community.”
The Open Enrollment period in Colorado ends Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2020. Residents who sign up for a health insurance plan by the deadline will receive a Feb. 1, 2020 coverage start date.
The wording of the first part varied somewhat depending on the candidate's position on healthcare policy, but the second part was identical for each. Here's how I worded it for Bernie Sanders:
"Senator, you've long been a staunch advocate of moving to a universal, mandatory, single-payer healthcare system which you call "Medicare for All", and have publicly rejected any proposal which includes cost sharing at the point of service or which continue to allow private major medical plans as not being acceptable.
However, until this year you were also a co-sponsor of Senator Warren's "Consumer Health Insurance Protection Act", or CHIPA, which amounts to a robust ACA 2.0 bill, and until recently you were also a co-sponsor of Senator Schatz's "State Public Option Act" which amounts to a Medicaid buy-in plan.
Nationally, they concluded that the U.S uninsured rate would increase by nearly 20 million people, while the 50 states (+DC) would collectively lose out on nearly $135 billion in federal funding.
Having stated the above, the ACA is still indeed very much in jeopardy. Going forward, the case will follow one of two possible routes:
Officially, it's supposed to go back to the judge who ruled against the ACA in the first place a year ago to "reconsider" which parts of it can be "saved"...after which it would then go back to the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals, and then to the U.S. Supreme Court. That full process could take well over a year.
However, it's possible that the Supreme Court will intervene and agree to take the case up instead of it going to the original judge first, which is what the defending states are now requesting. This full process...could still take up to a year, although it's conceivable that a final ruling would be issued before the election.
Well, as if Impeachment Day wasn't tense and historic enough already, the 3-judge panel of the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals has finally issued their decision on the Texas vs. U.S. (aka Texas vs. Azar, aka Texas Fold'em) lawsuit intended to strike down the entire Affordable Care Act:
Before KING, ELROD, and ENGELHARDT, Circuit Judges. JENNIFER WALKER ELROD, Circuit Judge:
Covered California Releases New Enrollment Data and Issues Reports on Five Years of Improving Affordability, Access and Accountability
Covered California announced that there are more than 230,000 new plan selections during the current open enrollment period – up approximately 16 percent over this time last year. More than 1.15 million people have also renewed their coverage.
In addition, more than 540,000 people will receive new state subsidies that will make quality health care coverage more affordable in 2020.
The agency also released two extensive reports that detail Covered California’s impacts on lowering costs and assuring quality care in its implementation of the Affordable Care Act.
Since 2013, California has reduced its uninsured rate by more than any other state in the nation has by expanding Medi-Cal, investing in marketing and outreach and keeping costs low for consumers.
California’s individual market consistently ranks among the healthiest in the nation, helping unsubsidized consumers save about $1,550 annually in 2018 on their premiums compared to consumers in the federal marketplace.
Covered California’s open-enrollment period runs through Jan. 31. Consumers must sign up before the end of Dec. 20 for their coverage to start on Jan. 1. California is one of 10 state marketplaces that are still open for business, representing 28 percent of Americans.
Nevadans Who Started Their Enrollment Applications on or Before the Dec. 15 Deadline Have Until Dec. 20 to Complete Applications for Coverage that Begins on Jan. 1 2020
Carson City, Nev. – The Silver State Health Insurance Exchange (Exchange), Nevada’s state agency that helps individuals obtain budget-appropriate health coverage through the online marketplace, Nevada Health Link, has extended its Open Enrollment deadline to 11:59 p.m. PST Friday, Dec. 20 for consumers who started the application process on or before the Dec. 15 midnight Open Enrollment deadline.
"We recognize the enrollment process for health insurance can be time-consuming. That’s why we are giving consumers five extra days to complete their application to purchase plans for coverage that begins Jan. 1, 2020," said Heather Korbulic, executive director, Silver State Health Insurance Exchange.
Less Than a Week to Enroll; MNsure's Open Enrollment Period Ends December 23
ST. PAUL, Minn.—Minnesotans have until 11:59 p.m. on Monday, December 23, to enroll in coverage through MNsure. After that date, Minnesotans will only be able to enroll in private health insurance coverage through MNsure if they qualify for a special enrollment period.
"Anyone with questions or who needs help enrolling should phone our Contact Center or reach out to a MNsure-certified assister,” said MNsure CEO Nate Clark. “We’re here to help. Don't wait until the last minute—get covered today!”
MNsure will have extended Contact Center hours leading up to the deadline:
158,600 MARYLANDERS ENROLLED THROUGH MARYLAND HEALTH CONNECTION
2020 enrollment total largest in four years
BALTIMORE (DEC. 17, 2019) – A total of 158,600 Marylanders enrolled in private health coverage for 2020 on Maryland Health Connection, the largest enrollment in four years on the state-based health insurance marketplace.
That was 1,637 more enrollees than a year ago when 156,963 enrolled. It was also the largest enrollment on the health insurance marketplace since 2016 when 162,652 enrolled. Enrollments for 2020 coverage grew in 20 of 24 jurisdictions.
The 45-day open enrollment period for the coming plan year began Nov. 1 and ended Sunday. A few hundred additional enrollments will be completed this week for consumers who had begun the process but hadn’t finished by Sunday night.
Connect for Health Colorado Extends Enrollment Deadline for January Coverage to Dec. 18, 2019
DENVER – To help as many people as possible get Jan. 1, 2020 coverage, Connect for Health Colorado is pleased to announce that the deadline to get coverage on Jan. 1 has been extended. Coloradans have until 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday Dec. 18, 2019 to sign up for a health insurance plan that starts on Jan. 1, 2020.
To sign up for coverage that begins Jan. 1, 2020, Coloradans must take the following steps:
1. Complete an application and select a health insurance plan online at ConnectforHealthCO.com, over the phone at 855-752-6749, or by working with a certified enrollment expert by 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 18.
