More than 152,000 Missourians selected an insurance plan in the Health Insurance Marketplace during open enrollment from Oct. 1, 2013, through March 31, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
More than 8 million people selected a plan nationwide.
Ryan Barker, vice president of health policy for the Missouri Foundation for Health (MFH), said Missouri passed its initial goal of enrolling 118,000 Missourians by 29 percent.
He credits the success to two things - work by the Cover Missouri Coalition and other grassroots organizations and universities, as well as the inherent need for quality, affordable coverage in Missouri.
"Kudos to the coalition and its members on the ground helping people enroll and understand their options," Barker said.
He said the Marketplace had a great turnout from young
Missourians in the 18-34 age group. Nearly 46,000 enrolled.
"This shows that Missouri's Marketplace is healthy," Barker said. "A huge selection of young people will keep the Marketplace stable. We don't expect a huge jump in premiums next year."
Barker said the federal report suggests a low turnout of African Americans and Latinos in Missouri's Marketplace, which he said MFH and Cover Missouri will use to guide their outreach efforts in the next enrollment period.
"Our work continues," he said. "There's still much to be done in Missouri."
Open enrollment for 2015 coverage in the Marketplace runs Nov. 15, 2014, through Feb. 15, 2015.