Effectuated Enrollment for the First Half of 2019

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 11, 2019 Contact: CMS Media Relations (202) 690-6145 | CMS Media Inquiries   Effectuated Enrollment for the First Half of 2019 This report provides average monthly effectuated enrollment and premium data for the individual market Federal and State-Based Exchanges for the first six months of the 2019 plan year. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) publishes effectuated enrollment data semiannually to provide a more accurate picture of enrollment trends for the Exchanges than indicated by the number of individuals who simply selected a plan during Open Enrollment. For coverage to be considered effectuated, individuals generally must pay the first month’s premium for the plan. As of September 15, 2019, an average of 10.2 million individuals had effectuated their coverage through June 2019. The average effectuated enrollment for the first six months of 2019 was approximately 85,000 individuals lower compared to the same time period in 2018, which represents a 0.8 percent decrease.[1]  Similar to past years, the number of individuals who effectuated coverage is lower than the number with plan selections at the end of Open Enrollment. The average number of individuals with effectuated coverage for the first half of 2019 was about 1.25 million lower than the number of individuals with plan selections at the end of the 2019 Open Enrollment Period.[2] This reflects a higher rate of enrollment effectuations from plan selections than last year.  Effectuated enrollments for the first half of 2018 were about 1.5 million lower than the number of plan selections at the end of the 2018 Open Enrollment Period (as of September 15, 2018). That is, effectuated enrollments as a percent of plan selections were 89% for 2019, up from 87% for the prior 2019 benefit year. The data released today also show that the average monthly premium per enrollee for the first six months of 2019 was $593.29, a decrease of 0.4 percent compared to the first six months of 2018, while the average monthly amount of advance payments of the premium tax credits (APTC) per eligible enrollee decreased 1.0% to $513.91 when compared with the first six months of 2018 average APTC per eligible enrollee. The average premium and average APTC amounts have been relatively stable since the start of the 2019 plan year, as indicated in the Early 2019 Effectuated Enrollment Snapshot.[3] The proportion of total enrollees who received APTC in the first six months of 2019 slightly increased to 87.0 percent, up from 86.5 percent in the first half of 2018. Background Information                                    The primary source for the first half of 2019 average effectuated enrollment is payment and enrollment data. Effectuated enrollment is the average number of individuals who had an active policy at any point from January through June of 2019, and who paid their premium (thus effectuating their coverage) as of September 15, 2019. This report includes effectuated enrollment for both State-Based Exchanges and States using the HealthCare.gov platform. APTC enrollment is the total number of individuals who had an active policy at any point from January through June 2019, who paid their premium, if applicable, and received APTC. APTC is generally available if an individual's estimated household income is between 100 and 400 percent of the federal poverty level, and certain other criteria are met. An individual was defined as receiving APTC if the applied APTC amount was greater than $0; otherwise, an individual was classified as not receiving APTC. CSR enrollment is the total number of individuals who had an active policy at any point from January through June 2019, who paid their premium, if applicable, and received cost-sharing reductions (CSR).[4] A consumer is generally eligible for CSR if the individual is eligible for APTC, has an estimated household income between 100 percent and 250 percent of the federal poverty level, and is enrolled in a health plan from the silver plan category. American Indians and Alaskan Natives are eligible for CSRs under different criteria. This communication was printed, published, or produced and disseminated at U.S. taxpayer expense. To see a breakdown of the data by state, click here: https://www.cms.gov/files/document/effectuated-enrollment-first-half-2019 [1] First Half Of 2018 Average Effectuated Enrollment Report, https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/effectuated-enrollment-first-half-2018 [2] Exchange 2019 Open Enrollment Period Final Enrollment Report: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/press-releases/cms-issues-2019-exchange-open-enrollment-period-final-report [3] Early 2019 Effectuated Enrollment Snapshot, https://www.cms.gov/sites/default/files/2019-08/08-12-2019 TABLE Early-2019-2018-Average-Effectuated-Enrollment.pdf [4] On October 12, 2017, the Acting Secretary of HHS directed that cost-sharing reduction payments to issuers be discontinued until a valid appropriation exists.