Christine Jordan Sexton
More than 1.3 million Floridians have enrolled or re-enrolled in so-called Obamacare plans through the federal health insurance marketplace, which puts the Sunshine State at the top of the list for number of residents using the federally run exchange to purchase insurance, federal officials said on Wednesday.
Nationally, nearly 7.5 million consumers selected a plan using the federal exchange platform at HealthCare.gov.
The federal government for the first time released enrollment information in metropolitan statistical areas, or MSAs. Not surprisingly, the figures show that consumers in the Miami-Dade MSA–which includes Ft. Lauderdale and West Palm Beach–used the exchange the most, with 637,514 consumers tapping into it.
That was followed by consumers in the following MSAs:
Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford MSA 162,125
Tampa, St. Petersburg-Clearwater MSA 162,125
Jacksonville MSA 67,294
North Port-Sarasota, Bradenton MSA 36,646
“Millions of Americans and thousands of Floridians are counting on the Affordable Care Act,” Department of Health and Human Services Regional Director Pamela Roshell said. “The data shows we are making data shows we are making significant progress across America, including major metropolitan areas.”
As of January 16, 2015, 57 percent of the those using the exchange had enrolled in the program during the first year of eligibility in the federal health care program–often called Obamacare–and were automatically re-enrolled. Forty-three percent were first time enrollees, according to HHS.
Ninety three percent of the consumers who purchased Obamacare plans through the exchange during the first two months of open enrollment were eligible for financial assistance. In the first year of open enrollment in Obamacare 85 percent of Floridians paid $100 or less for their coverage per month. Numbers for 2015 were not available.
On average, Florida consumers have a choice of 42 different health plans in their county to choose from. Statewide, there are 14 insurers offering the plans through the exchange.
There was no break out of what type of plans people were purchasing.
Florida consumers must use the federal exchange because Florida did not develop its own state-run exchange as allowable under the Affordable Care Act.
The state also has not expanded Medicaid access to those with incomes up to 138 percent of the federal poverty level, as called for in the Affordable Care Act.
While the Florida Senate may be willing to expand Medicaid leadership in the House still appears unlikely to support the move.
The second year of open enrollment for Obamacare coverage ends February 15.
Florida Director for Enroll America Nick Duran said there are 2,000 volunteers across the state helping Floridians make health choices through the Enroll America program.
His organization will be in Florida on Friday, traveling to all the major MSAs. He said there are 10,000 appointments slots available for Floridians who feel they need help enrolling in the health care program. He said they will “beat the drum hard and get the word out” over the next 11 days to continue enrolling people.
