About 253,969 Missouri consumers selected a health insurance plan or automatically re-enrolled in coverage through the Health Insurance Marketplace during the second year of open enrollment, according to information released from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
Nationwide, about 11.4 million Americans selected Marketplace plans or were automatically re-enrolled, including about 8.6 million people in the states that use the HealthCare.gov platform, such as Missouri. About 2.8 million enrolled in the state-based marketplaces based on those states' preliminary data.
On the final day Sunday, more new consumers signed up for health coverage than on any other day during this open enrollment or the last, said Sylvia Burwell, HHS secretary. She also said that in the 37 states using HealthCare.gov, nearly eight out of every 10 consumers could be covered for $100 a month or less with financial assistance.
In the St. Louis area specifically, 112,118 consumers selected or were automatically re-enrolled in a plan, along with more than 85,000 in the Kansas City area.
The data reported are preliminary figures that could fluctuate based on consumers changing or canceling plans, having a change in status such as new job or marriage, or because of ongoing special enrollment periods. Also included in these figures are a number of individuals who had 2014 coverage but cannot continue coverage in 2015 because they did not provide the necessary documentation of their citizenship or immigration status. They will be removed from future reports. To be counted as covered, consumers were required to pay their first month of coverage.