Enrollment ticks up in state ACA exchanges, drops in federal marketplace

Most states that operate their own ACA exchanges saw more people sign up in 2018 than last year, while 29 of the 34 states that rely on the federal government to promote enrollment saw their sign-ups fall (Source: “ObamaCare enrollment tells tale of two systems,” The Hill, Feb. 8, 2018).

Of the 17 state-based marketplaces, 11 saw enrollment increases: Colorado, Connecticut, Washington, D.C., Massachusetts, Minnesota, New York, Rhode Island, Nevada, Washington, Kentucky and Oregon while California, Idaho, Maryland, Vermont, Arkansas and New Mexico saw decreases. Overall, enrollment in state-based marketplaces increased by 0.09 percent.

The 34 states, including Ohio, using the federal marketplace, in contrast, saw a 5.3 percent drop in enrollment, according to data released Wednesday by the National Academy of State Health Policy (NASHP). Total enrollment in the federal marketplace dropped 5.3 percent.

Ohio’s enrollment fell 3.7 percent from 238,843 in plan year 2017 to 230,127 for plan year 2018.