Reform Alert - News from the Blues' Office of National Health Reform

Health Insurance Marketplace enrollment

Jan. 22, 2014

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) reported that more than 2 million people selected insurance plans through state and federal Marketplaces as of Dec. 28, 2013.

The Jan. 13 announcement is the government’s first release of demographic information about enrollees. In December, young adults age 18-34 account for nearly a quarter of all Marketplace enrollees. There has been considerable interest in encouraging young adults to enroll in Marketplace plans because they are the age group most likely to be without health insurance coverage. The expectation is that people who are older and sicker are more likely to select coverage earlier in the initial enrollment period, while “younger and healthier people” will tend to wait until the end of open enrollment. As can be seen in the growth in enrollment of young adults in the FFM for December compared to October and November; increasing nearly five-fold.

Of the nearly 2.2 million enrollees in federal and state Marketplaces:

  • 54 percent are female and 46 percent are male
  • 30 percent are ages 34 and under
  • 24 percent are between the ages of 18 and 34
  • 60 percent selected a Silver plan, while 20 percent selected a Bronze plan
  • 79 percent selected a plan with financial assistance.

In Michigan, 75,511 individuals have selected a Marketplace plan while a total of 185,376 individuals have completed applications. Of those completed applications, 101,539 people have been determined eligible for financial assistance and 22,221 individuals qualify for Medicaid or CHIP.

Of the persons who have selected Marketplace plans in Michigan:

  • 55 percent are female and 45 percent are male
  • 25 percent are between the ages of 18 and 34
  • 70 percent selected a Silver plan, while 12 percent selected a Bronze plan
  • 84 percent selected a plan with financial assistance.

The January report also details state-by-state information where available. In some cases, only partial datasets were available for state marketplaces.