Dive Brief:
- State health exchange enrollment went above 100% of projections in almost half of states, according to a new analysis from consulting firm Avalere Health.
- The top states for enrollment were Florida, California, Idaho and Washington, whose enrollment numbers exceeded 160% of expectations.
- Avalere compared exchange participation at the end of open enrollment to projections based on Congressional Budget enrollment estimates, according to FierceHealthPayer.
Dive Insight:
Avalere's analysis notes that even if 15% of enrollees did not take the final step and pay their premiums, more than 6.8 million people were enrolled through April 19 and will have coverage effective as of May 1. That is enough enrollees to significantly affect hospitals, physicians and health plans. What remains to be seen is whether more states will choose to expand Medicaid. If more states currently refusing do choose to do so, that will have an even greater effect on health care stakeholders.