Healthplanfinder enrollment tops 175,000 – mostly in Medicaid

More than 175,000 Washington residents have signed up for health insurance through Washington Healthplanfinder, the state’s online insurance marketplace, according to the latest enrollment figures released Tuesday by the Washington Health Benefit Exchange.

The vast majority of enrollees qualified for the state’s Medicaid program, Apple Health, which is expanding eligibility in 2014 to include adults with incomes up to 138 percent of the federal poverty level, which is about $16,000 for an individual.

A total of 176,468 residents enrolled in coverage through Healthplanfinder in October and November, the first two months of open enrollment for coverage in 2014.

That figure includes 18,131 residents who bought private health-insurance policies, known as “qualified health plans.” More than 91,000 are newly eligible for Medicaid because of expanded eligibility that takes effect Jan. 1, 2014. More than 66,000 enrollees qualify for Medicaid under the current guidelines and will receive immediate coverage.

Read the rest at: http://blogs.seattletimes.com/healthcarecheckup/2013/12/03/healthplanfinder-enrollment-tops-175000-mostly-in-medicaid/