HealthSource RI: Nearly 5K new customers have signed up

PROVIDENCE – HealthSource RI is reporting that nearly 5,000 new customers have signed up for the state’s health benefits exchange.

In addition, 17,941 customers, or 71 percent of customers from the first year of operation, renewed plans for a total of 22,910 customers.

Data is based on the period from Nov. 7 through Dec. 27.

A total of 532 small employer applications were completed as of Dec. 27, and 1,904 small employer accounts were created, with approximately 3,000 lives covered. Small employers may enroll at their renewal date, regardless of where that date falls in the calendar year.

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Excluding small employer data, HealthSource RI released demographic data about plan participants, showing that 47 percent are male, while 53 percent are female. The majority – 30 percent – are 55 and older, while the fewest, 6 percent, are under 18. The 45-54 age group comprises the next largest percentage at 23 percent, followed by 35-44 at 17 percent, 26-34 at 15 percent, and 18-25 at 9 percent.
Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island is the most popular payer selected, with 55 percent of participants choosing it, followed by Neighborhood Health Plan of Rhode Island at 42 percent and UnitedHealthcare of New England at 3 percent.
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 35 percent qualified for advanced premium tax credits and 52 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.

The exchange also said that 150,143 phone calls were received, and that there were 8,442 walk-ins at the Providence office, and 2,232 walk-ins at the Warwick location, for a total of 10,674 walk-ins. Website visits totaled 189,818, with 98,952 unique visitors. There were a total of 376,514 page views.

Open enrollment for individuals ends Feb. 15. Medicaid-eligible individuals may enroll throughout the year.
This past week, Gov.-elect Gina M. Raimondo announced that Anya Rader Wallack, who has been involved in health care reform in Vermont and Massachusetts, will replace Christine C. Ferguson at HealthSource RI as director.
Wallack, president of Arrowhead Health Analytics in Fall River, said she will start the new position on Jan. 7.

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