Nearly 60,000 Mainers sign up for health coverage via state's marketplace
File photo
In the first month of open enrollment, 59,880 Mainers have signed up for health insurance through the state’s new online marketplace.
In the first month of open enrollment, 59,880 Mainers have signed up for health insurance through the state’s new online marketplace, topping those who signed up using the federal system last year.
The Maine Department of Health and Human Services said the tally includes consumers whose coverage has been automatically renewed for 2022, in addition to consumers who proactively visited the new CoverME.gov site to choose a new plan or renew their existing plan.
“Four weeks into open enrollment, tens of thousands of Maine people are already signed up for high-quality, affordable health coverage in 2022,” said DHHS Commissioner Jeanne Lambrew.
“As open enrollment continues, we urge anyone in need of health insurance to visit CoverME.gov to check out their options and encourage consumers to come back to complete their applications by December 15 to start the new year with coverage.”
Maine recently launched its own health insurance marketplace that replaced the federal government website used to purchase insurance under the Affordable Care Act.
The enrollment so far already exceeds the total of 59,738 who signed up during the open enrollment period last year, which ended Dec. 15, 2020, when Maine used the federal HealthCare.gov platform.
At CoverME.gov, Maine people can compare plans, apply for financial assistance, and enroll in a 2022 health plan. This year, 71 health plans are being offered through CoverME.gov.
Mainers have until Dec. 15 to apply and enroll in a plan that takes effect on Jan. 1.
The transition to the state-based marketplace allowed Maine to extend the open enrollment period, so this year consumers also have until Jan. 15 to enroll in a plan that takes effect on Feb. 1.
The federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services reported that nationwide during November, nearly 4.6 million Americans signed up for 2022 individual health insurance coverage through the federal marketplace, HealthCare.gov, and state-based marketplaces including CoverME.gov.
In Maine, 13,820 people actively selected a plan during this period, while coverage for 46,060 consumers was automatically renewed.
Plan selections provide a snapshot of activity by new and returning consumers who have selected a plan for 2022. “Plan selections” become “enrollments” once consumers have paid their first monthly premium to begin coverage. These numbers are subject to change as consumers may modify or cancel plans after their initial selection, DHHS said.
With extra assistance from the American Rescue Plan, nearly 25 percent of consumers in Maine enrolled in a plan in 2021 with a monthly premium of $10 or less. This assistance will continue to be available in 2022. Even those who were not eligible in the past can likely get assistance to lower monthly premiums and other out-of-pocket costs, DHHS said.
To encourage people to sign up for coverage, Maine has launched a comprehensive marketing campaign to raise awareness of consumers' options for coverage through social and digital media, ads on buses, bus shelters, diner placemats, TV and radio ads, and outreach to previously underserved populations including Maine’s immigrant communities.
As in previous years, those who already have a marketplace plan are automatically re-enrolled in their current plan or the most similar offering from their health insurance carrier.
People who apply through CoverME.gov who are eligible for MaineCare will have their application sent to MaineCare for review. Eligible Maine people can enroll in MaineCare at any time of year.
Most Recent
Most Recent
0 Comments