The DC Health Benefit Exchange Authority today released new data showing continued strong enrollment activity through DCHealthLink.com, the District of Columbia’s new online health insurance marketplace for individuals, families and small businesses. Since the exchange opened for business on October 1, DC Health Link has enrolled 26,180 people. This includes District residents who enrolled in private health plans and in Medicaid, as well as people with coverage through their employers.
Enrollment
To date, 26,180 people have enrolled through DC Health Link in private health plans or Medicaid:
- 5,090 people enrolled in private health plans through the DC Health Link individual and family marketplace and 965 of those have coverage that will be effective March 1, 2014;
- 8,451 people gained Medicaid coverage through DC Health Link; and
- 12,639 people enrolled through the DC Health Link small business marketplace.
Individuals and families have until February 15, 2014 to complete an application and select a health plan to have coverage that begins on March 1, 2014. Open enrollment for individuals and families will continue through March 31, 2014. Federal law requires everyone to have coverage. Those who remain without health coverage are subject to a tax penalty (IRS) of 1% of their income in 2014.
Demographic Information for People in Qualified Health Plans Through the Individual Marketplace
Similar to the first three months of open enrollment, the largest enrollment – 37% of enrollees in private coverage (individual not SHOP) through DC Health Link – is 26 to 34 year olds; the second largest is 35 to 44 year olds (21%).
Age of Enrollees in Qualified Health Plans – Individual Marketplace
(does not include Medicaid and SHOP)
Note: Age information not available for 59 people.
Metal Level of Coverage Selected in Qualified Health Plans – Individual Marketplace (does not include SHOP)
| Metal Level | Count | Percent |
|---|---|---|
| catastrophic | 182 | 4% |
| bronze | 1352 | 27% |
| silver | 1184 | 23% |
| gold | 1173 | 23% |
| platinum | 1199 | 24% |
| Total | 5090 | 100% |
DC Health Link Contact Center Data
Since October 1, 2013, the Contact Center received 51,290 calls. Generally the highest call volume is on Mondays and the lowest call volume is on Tuesdays. The Contact Center (855-532-5465) is open Monday through Saturday from 8 am until midnight.
DC Health Link Website Traffic
Since October 1, 2013, 41,006 individual accounts and 9,567 small business accounts have been created. In the same time period, DCHealthLink.com had nearly 200,000 visitors.