CMS Releases Data On Effectuated Enrollments, Plan Cancellations

On June 12, 2017, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services released effectuated enrollment data for the 2017 open enrollment period. (press release) They also released a Health Insurance Exchanges Trends Report, which summarizes information CMS has collected from a voluntary exit report in force since August of 2016. The effectuated enrollment report shows that 10.3 million of the 12.2 million consumers who actively selected or were passively re-enrolled in a health plan for 2017 remained enrolled as of March 15, 2017. Of these, 8.7 million or 84 percent received premium tax credits (averaging $371.46) and 5.9 million, or 57 percent, received cost-sharing reduction payments. This is the first year that the effectuated enrollment report also includes average monthly enrollment. Enrollment averaged 10 million for 2017, with average monthly effectuated enrollment beginning 2016 in March at 10.8 million and declining to 9.1 million by December. The Trends report explores why consumers either cancelled coverage after they selected a plan but before they effectuated enrollment or terminated a plan after effectuating enrollment. The most common reasons for cancelling coverage before paying the first month’s premium were premium increases over the prior year or previous plan (20 percent) and ineligibility for financial assistance (17 percent). Consumers who did not receive premium tax credits were 2.4 times more likely to cancel or terminate their coverage between the close o...
Source: Health Affairs Blog - Category: Health Management Authors: Tags: Following the ACA Insurance and Coverage advanced premium tax credits cost-sharing reduction payments effectuated enrollment plan cancellations Source Type: blogs