The Wahkiakum County Eagle - Established as The Skamokawa Eagle in 1891

In Washington, 160,732 consumers selected or were automatically re-enrolled in quality, affordable health insurance coverage through the Health Insurance Marketplace as of Feb. 22, according to a report released recently by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Of the consumers with a marketplace plan selection, 79 percent (126,657 people) qualified for financial assistance to help with the cost of monthly premiums.

In Washington, 44,844 consumers under the age of 35 are signed up for marketplace coverage (28 percent of all plan selections). And 38,897 consumers 18 to 34 years of age (24 percent of all plan selections) are signed up for marketplace coverage.

“The figures released today tell a story of health coverage consumers rely on for financial and health security,” said Secretary Sylvia M. Burwell. “In Washington 126,657 Marketplace consumers qualified for tax credits to make their coverage affordable and accessible. People who come to the marketplace for coverage are actively engaged and shopping for the product that’s best for them and their families. The Affordable Care Act is working and we’re grateful to the volunteers, assisters, navigators, local officials, members of Congress and many national organizations who joined this effort across the country.”

Nationwide, nearly 11.7 million consumers selected a plan or were automatically enrolled in Marketplace coverage. Of those, 8.84 million (76 percent) were in states using the HealthCare.gov platform and 2.85 million (24 percent) were in the 14 states (including Washington and Washington, D.C.) using their own marketplace platforms. Nearly 7.7 million individuals with a plan selection in the states using HealthCare.gov qualified for an average tax credit of $263 per month and more than half (55 percent) paid $100 or less per month after tax credits.

Nationwide, more than 4.1 million consumers under the age of 35 are signed up for marketplace coverage (35 percent of all plan selections compared to 34 percent of plan selections at the end of 2014 Open Enrollment). And nearly 3.3 million consumers 18 to 34 years of age are signed up for marketplace coverage. As in 2014, that’s 28 percent of all plan selections.

The report includes data for individuals who selected or were automatically re-enrolled in coverage through Feb. 21 for 12 states and Washington, D.C. using their own marketplace platforms and through Feb. 22 for the 37 states using the HealthCare.gov platform (including Oregon and Nevada), as well as California which is a state based marketplace.

The report does not include information on effectuated enrollment. To have their coverage effectuated, consumers need to pay their first month’s health plan premium.

Open Enrollment in the marketplace ended on Feb. 15. Consumers should visit HealthCare.gov to see if they qualify for a special enrollment period because of a life change like marriage, having a baby or losing other coverage. Enrollment in Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program is also open year round.

Resources:

--Localhelp.healthcare.gov/.

--all the Federally-facilitated Marketplace Call Center at 1-800-318-2596. TTY users should call 1-855- 889-4325. Translation services are available. The call is free.

--The monthly enrollment report: http://aspe.hhs.gov/health/reports/2015/MarketPlaceEnrollment/Mar2015/ib_2015mar_enrollment.pdf .