HealthSource RI: 6K new customers signed up

PROVIDENCE – HealthSource RI said that 6,067 new customers have signed up for the state’s health benefits exchange, and that 20,313 customers have renewed coverage.

The data, released Wednesday, covers the open enrollment period from Nov. 7, 2014 through Jan. 3, 2015.
Healthsource said that as of Jan. 3, 78 percent of Year One customers have renewed and selected a plan for 2015, and that 59 percent of renewing customers have already paid their first month’s premium.
A total of 26,380 people have enrolled in 2015 coverage for individuals, including those who have not yet paid.

As for the small employer applications, 532 were completed as of Dec. 27, and 1,904 small employer accounts were created, with approximately 3,000 lives covered.

Although open enrollment for individuals ends Feb. 15, small employers may enroll at their renewal date, regardless of where that date falls in the calendar year. Medicaid-eligible individuals also may enroll throughout the year.

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Excluding small employer data, HealthSource said that 47 percent of new enrollees and renewals to date are male, while 53 percent are female. The largest group – 30 percent – are 55 and older.
Most – 54 percent – also are selecting Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island, while 43 percent are choosing Neighborhood Health Plan of RI and 3 percent are picking UnitedHealthcare of New England.

HealthSource RI reported that 13 percent of customers in the individual market – those not signing up through the small business module – received no financial assistance, while 34 percent qualified for advanced premium tax credits and 53 percent, advanced premium tax credits and cost-sharing reductions.
Tax credits are based on income and family size. An individual making up to $46,680 a year may qualify for a tax credit. A family of four making up to $95,400 a year may qualify for a tax credit.
Cost-sharing reduction plans offer lower deductibles, co-payments and co-insurance for certain health care services, which may allow consumers to pay less for medical care. Individuals earning up to $29,175 a year and families of four earning up to $59,625 a year may qualify. Members of an American Indian Tribe or Alaskan natives also may qualify.

HealthSource received 165,671 phone calls, while the Providence office saw 9,124 walk-ins, and the Warwick office had 2,364 walk-ins. Website page views numbered 414,866.

New and renewing customers who enroll and pay for their first month’s premium by Jan. 23 will have coverage that begins on Feb. 1, 2015.

New and renewing customers who enroll by Feb. 15 and pay for their first month’s premium by Feb. 23 will have coverage that begins on March 1.

Figures for sign-ups for Medicaid through HealthSource RI are not available at this time, although the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services reported in December that the percentage growth from September 2013 to October 2014 of Rhode Islanders signed up for Medicaid was 36.7 percent.

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