Here's the weekly look at the rate of COVID-19 cases & deaths at the county level since the end of June, broken out by partisan lean (i.e, what percent of the vote Donald Trump received in 2020).
The partisan ratio of case rates are now running 2.4x higher per capita in the reddest tenth of the country than the bluest tenth, down from 3.0x higher in late October:
NJDOBI Announces More Than 285K Signed Up for Health Insurance through Get Covered New Jersey, As Consumers Take Advantage of Record Levels of Financial Help
Total signups up over 25 percent, with an additional 60k plan selections compared to this time last year
Two weeks before critical deadline to enroll in coverage starting January 1st
TRENTON — Department of Banking and Insurance Commissioner Marlene Caride today announced that more than 285,000 New Jerseyans are signed up for a 2022 health insurance plan through Get Covered New Jersey so far during the three-month Open Enrollment Period that started November 1st, as consumers take advantage of record levels of financial help available through the American Rescue Plan and increased and expanded state subsidies. Total signups are up over 25 percent, with an additional 60,000 health plan selections compared to this time last year.
Ever since the ACA went into effect in 2011 (3 years before newly-sold policies had to be ACA compliant), to help reduce price gouging, insurance carriers have been required to spend a minimum of 80% of their premium revenue (85% for the large group market) on actual medical claims.
Put another way, their gross margins are limited to no more than 20% (or 15% in the large group market). Remember, that's their gross margin, not net; all operational expenses must come out of that 20% (15%). The idea is that they should be spending as much of your premium dollars as possible on actual healthcare, as opposed to junkets to Tahiti or marble staircases in the corporate offices, etc. Anything over that 20% (15%) gross margin has to be rebated to the policyholder.
Stats as of December 17, 2021 (Updated every Friday during Open Enrollment)
Qualified Health Plans (QHP):
QHP Enrollment In 2022 Coverage: 104,085
2022 OE Acquisition Summary: 11,961
Medicaid:
Completed applications/redeterminations processed through the integrated eligibility system: 15,854
I'm not entirely sure what the 11,961 figure refers to. I think it's already counted as part of the 104,085 figure, but I could be wrong.
Last year's final OEP enrollment tally for Connecticut was 104,946 QHP selections, which they've come within 1% of breaking with a full month left to go.
Due to the December 11th natural disaster throughout the Commonwealth and reports of technical issues during Open Enrollment, a Special Enrollment Period (SEP) for kynect health coverage is now available to impacted residents.
A Special Enrollment Period allows enrollment dates to be extended or added. Prior to this Special Enrollment Period announcement, the deadline to enroll for a Qualified Health Plan with coverage starting January 1st, 2022 was December 15th, 2021.
The Special Enrollment Period will be granted for citizens with the following circumstances:
Any person who attests that their ability to enroll in a Qualified Health Plan was affected by severe weather in December 2021.
Any person who attests that they encountered system errors, including long wait times with the call center, that prevented them from enrolling in a Qualified Health Plan prior to December 15th, 2021.
CoverME.gov Open Enrollment Update: November 1- December 11
The Maine Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Office of the Health Insurance Marketplace (OHIM) today released an update on plan selections through CoverME.gov, Maine’s new Health Insurance Marketplace.
OHIM will continue to post updates every two weeks throughout open enrollment, which began on November 1, 2021 and ends on January 15, 2022.
Since the start of open enrollment through December 11 on CoverME.gov:
The Trump administration is considering cutting funding for ObamaCare outreach groups that help people enroll in coverage, sources say.
An initial proposal by the administration would have cut the funding for the groups, known as "navigators," from $36 million last year to $10 million this year. Sources say that proposal now could be walked back, and it is possible funding could remain the same as last year, but it is unclear where the final number will end up.
...Officials announced it would cut funding from $63 million down to $36 million in August 2017, a move that was decried by Democrats.
Press Release: NY State of Health Announces Enrollment Continues to Climb as Coverage Deadline Approaches
ALBANY, N.Y. (December 14, 2021) - NY State of Health, the state’s official health plan Marketplace, today announced as the December 15 deadline nears, enrollment in Qualified Health Plans is increasing at a steady clip. To date, more than 180,000 New Yorkers have enrolled in a Qualified Health Plan since the start of the Open Enrollment Period on November 16, 2021. Consumers must enroll by December 15, 2021 for health coverage beginning January 1, 2022.
I've included two of the key slides below, but there's a bunch of other demographic breakout stuff at the link above...financial assistance breakout, metal tiers, net premium data, etc.
The main number: As of 12/15/21, 357,212 PA residents had selected (or been auto-renewed into) 2022 Qualified Health Plans (QHPs). This is up 11.7% vs. the same point last year.
MNsure Reports Record Sign-ups Since Open Enrollment’s Start
ST. PAUL, Minn.—Today, MNsure reports that over 125,500 Minnesotans have signed up for comprehensive, affordable private health coverage through the state’s health insurance marketplace since the start of the current open enrollment period on November 1.
Minnesota’s open enrollment period runs through January 15, 2022. Consumers who select plans by January 15 will have coverage starting February 1, 2022.
“The COVID-19 pandemic continues to highlight the importance of comprehensive health insurance for families and individuals across the state,” said MNsure CEO Nate Clark. “We’re pleased that thousands of Minnesotans are using MNsure to sign up for coverage that gives them access to essential benefits like preventive and emergency care, which can protect them from potentially high, unexpected medical costs.”
