89k Ohioans sign up for marketplace plans in first month of open enrollment

Nearly 89,000 Ohioans chose a health insurance through the Affordable Health Care marketplace during the second open enrollment from Nov. 15 to Dec. 15, the federal government reported last week (Source: “Feds report Ohio signups for 2015 health care so far,” Cincinnati Enquirer, Dec. 30, 2014). 

Of the 88,927 Ohioans who used the marketplace during that time, 52 percent re-enrolled in a plan for 2015, and 48 percent signed up for coverage for the first time.  Dec. 15 was the deadline for enrolling for coverage beginning Jan. 1. The marketplace will remain open until Feb. 15 for coverage that would begin March 1.

According to the report from U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, about 6.4 million Americans chose health-care plans through the marketplace during the first month of open enrollment. The department also reported Tuesday about 85 percent of Ohioans who chose health care plans in that time were eligible for financial assistance to lower monthly premiums.

In the first enrollment period of the Affordable Care Act, from October 2013 until March 2014, more than 584,000 Ohioans signed up for a health-insurance plan or Medicaid through the marketplace.