Slightly more than 11,400 New Hampshire residents have bought health insurance plans through the federal marketplace so far in the open enrollment period, and since this year has a relatively short sign-up period, it seems likely that the final tally will be lower than last year’s figure of about 51,000.
New Hampshire’s experience is echoing that of many of the 39 states using the healthcare.gov platform, most of which have seen fewer sign ups than at this point last year.
New Hampshire residents who want to purchase coverage on healthcare.gov, and thus be eligible for federal subsidies, must do so by Dec. 15.
In past years the open enrollment period has lasted as long as three months, but this year it will last 45 days. The federal budget for publicizing enrollment through the Affordable Care Act was slashed 90 percent by the Trump administration.
Further, Congress has eliminated financial penalties if you don’t get health insurance, starting next year, which may keep some people from buying insurance.
Finally, the Trump administration has allowed some health care plans to be sold off the federal marketplace that are exempt from certain ACA requirements. This makes them cheaper but, critics argue, leaves customers vulnerable.
All these factors are expected to contribute to fewer enrollments through the federal marketplace.
However, there might be other reasons, said Jayme Simoes, a spokesman for Covering New Hampshire, an independent marketing firm for insurance enrollment.
“Some of the decline may reflect an improved economy,” he said. “Unemployment is practically at zero. I think you’d find that more and more employers are offering health insurance, to lure employees.”
He also pointed to the expansion of Medicaid in New Hampshire, which provided health insurance to some 60,000 people who otherwise might have needed to go through healthcare.gov.
“So part of (the decline) is negative, and part of it’s positive,” he said.
Three insurance companies offer insurance plans in New Hampshire through the marketplace for next year: Anthem, Ambetter from N.H. Healthy Families, and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care.
Residents who met income requirements may be able to get insurance through a program called New Hampshire Granite Advantage Program.
For more information or to find a person to assist people looking for health insurance, visit CoveringNewHampshire.org or call 1-800-318-2596.