States like Oklahoma, Mississippi, Florida and Iowa, which had more modest rate increases (or in some cases, decreases) saw major gains in signups. (Photo: Shutterstock)
It turns out, the majority of people don't need to be threatened with a financial penalty to buy insurance. Despite the loss of the ACA's individual mandate, nearly 8.3 million Americans signed up for individual health insurance coverage on Healthcare.gov during this year's open enrollment period–a slight drop from last year's 8.4 million.
"These numbers represent remarkably stable enrollment especially in light of the ongoing growth of the Trump economy, improving employment conditions and rising wages that would otherwise reduce the demand for subsidized coverage on the Exchange," CMS Administrator Seema Verma said in a tweet.
Enrollment included 2.1 million new customers (an increase compared to last year) and 6.2 million returning customers. As calculated by Medcitynews, the states with the highest enrollment included Florida, Texas, North Carolina, Georgia and Illinois.
This year's premium rates increased by 4 percent on average, but in states with higher increases, the impact was noticeable. In Louisiana, which saw a 12 percent rate increase, enrollment dropped to a record low of 87,748. Meanwhile, states like Oklahoma, Mississippi, Florida and Iowa, which had more modest rate increases (or in some cases, decreases) saw major gains in signups.
"Overall, this is a story about stability and that is very positive news," said former Helathcare.gov chief marketing officer Josh Peck, who served during the Obama administration. "This looks to be one of the most stable years we have seen under the Trump administration."
While the decrease over 2019′s enrollment numbers show a stable market for health insurance, it's still a far cry from peak enrollment of 14.5 million in 2016.
The numbers do not include enrollment figures for state-run exchanges, of which Nevada joined the ranks this year. That, combined with expansion of Medicaid in Maine, could account for as many as 90,000 enrollees who otherwise would have signed up for a plan on Healthcare.gov.
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Emily Payne
Emily Payne is director, content analytics for ALM's Business & Finance Markets and former managing editor for BenefitsPRO. A Wisconsin native, she has spent the past decade writing and editing for various athletic and fitness publications. She holds an English degree and Business certificate from the University of Wisconsin.
