R.I. health insurance enrollment declines

PROVIDENCE – Rhode Island commercial health insurance enrollment declined 10 percent in 2010 from 2005, according to the R.I. Office of the Health Insurance Commissioner.
Enrollment declined to 550,000 people from 620,000 people, it said in an analysis of enrollment trends released Tuesday.
The analysis found that there was a consistent decline of about 1-to-2 percent per year.
The small group market, for employers with 50 or less employees, dropped by 15 percent, or 15,000 people, in the five-year period, OHIC said.
The combined large group and self-insured market fell by 9 percent, or 48,000 people, for the same period.
OHIC also observed a partial shift from large group to self-insured plans for the period; large group enrollment has declined by 22 percent, or 64,000 people, while self-insured plan enrollment has increased by 8 percent, or 16,000 people.
The analysis was based upon self-reported data from all affiliated companies submitted by Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island, UnitedHealthCare of New England and Tufts Health Plan of Rhode Island.
In enrollment trends, Blue Cross is by far the largest carrier in the large group and self-insured market, with about 72 percent. However, Blue Cross enrollment for this combined market segment declined by 4 percent, or 15,000 people, during the five-year period.
UnitedHealthcare enrollment for this combined market segment also declined by about 25 percent, or 38,000 people since 2005. Tufts enrollment grew slightly from a very small base, according to the analysis.
In the small group market, Blue Cross enrollment has declined by 26 percent, or 20,000 people, since 2005, while UnitedHealthcare’s enrollment has increased by 11 percent, or 4,000 people, during the same time period. Tufts enrollment grew very slightly from a very small base, the OHIC said without giving specific numbers.
In order to understand what these shifts in the commercial markets mean, OHIC said the analysis should be paired with trends in uninsured, Medicaid and the total Rhode Island population under 65 from 2005 to 2010.