2M Have Signed Up For Health Plans Through Covered California

On Thursday, Covered California announced that more than two million consumers have enrolled in health plans through the exchange since its launch, the Orange County Register reports (Perkes, Orange County Register, 10/9).

According to the Los Angeles Times, early projections had placed total enrollment between 1.3 million and 1.7 million consumers.

Total Enrollment Numbers

According to Peter Lee, executive director of the exchange, of the more than two million who have enrolled in coverage through the exchange, about 1.3 million still were enrolled in exchange plans as of June 30.

According to the Times, the exchange said about 700,000 enrollees have dropped their exchange coverage. Of those, the exchange said that:

• 44% switched to employer-based coverage;
• 16% enrolled in Medi-Cal, the state's Medicaid program;
• 15% became uninsured;
• 13% obtained private coverage outside of the exchange; and
• 11% enrolled in plans from other sources.

Lee said the exchange had expected that some of its enrollees, for various reasons, would drop their coverage. He said, "This finding underscores that for many, Covered California is not an endpoint."

Enrollment projections for the coming year range from 1.3 million to 1.5 million by June 30, 2016, the Times reports (Sisson, Los Angeles Times, 10/8). The third open enrollment period starts Nov. 1 and ends Jan. 31, 2016 (Plevin, "KPCC News," KPCC, 10/8).

Details of Enrollees

Overall enrollment varied by race. The data show that:

• 37% of policyholders were white;
• 29% were Latino;
• 23% were Asian; and
• 2.4% were black (Los Angeles Times, 10/8).

In addition, more policyholders were older, with 53.5% between ages 45 and 64 (Orange County Register, 10/9).

Of those still covered by exchange plans, about 90% were receiving subsidies. Lee said typical consumers paid an average of $157 per month, with their subsidies covering about 70% of premium costs ("KPCC News," KPCC, 10/8).