(New Castle, DE – Insurance News 360) – Even with the challenges to enrollment, nearly 25,000 Delaware residents signed up for insurance coverage on the Delaware Health Insurance Marketplace for plan year 2018. This represents a 10 percent decrease from the 27,584 enrollment of 2017.
In a six week time frame ending Dec. 15, a total of 24,860 citizens enrolled, despite the enrllment window being cut in half.
“I am pleased that so many Delawareans saw the value and the need in having health insurance coverage despite the challenges they faced this year during open enrollment,” Governor John Carney said. “Health insurance provides that critical connection to quality health care. That connection is the first step toward building a healthier Delaware.”
In 2017, Aetna left the Health Insurance Marketplace for the upcoming year. This left Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield of Delaware as the only insurer on the marketplace, and gave enrollees a choice of one of seven Highmark plans that were available for purchase in 2018, or automatically enrolled them in a similar plan offered by Highmark. In October, Insurance Commissioner Trinidad Navarro announced approval of an average rate increase of 25 percent for Highmark’s plans for 2018.
“I am grateful that we were able to get out the message to Delawareans that health insurance is important to have and that financial assistance was available to help them pay for it,” said Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) Secretary Dr. Kara Odom Walker, a board-certified family physician. “Our federal navigators, enrollment assisters and insurance agents and brokers did an outstanding job of working with people to help them understand their options, including the availability of federal financial assistance.”
During 2017, more than 81 percent of Delaware enrollees received financial assistance, including tax credits, which help to reduce the cost of monthly premiums. Financial help was available to individuals with an annual household income up to $47,520 and up to $97,200 for a family of four.
“Access to quality healthcare is the foundation for healthy communities,” said Commissioner Navarro. “Notwithstanding the obstacles during the shortened open enrollment period, Delawareans made clear their willingness to participate in the Affordable Care Act. I commend the efforts of DHSS and the navigators who assisted consumers. I also thank the federal delegation for their efforts to try to extend the signup period.”
Source: Delaware Department of Insurance.