Dive Brief:
- Kevin Counihan, HealthCare.gov CEO, recently addressed a health exchange forum hosted by America's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) and stressed the stability of the marketplace.
- Counihan also referred to the younger customers who signed up during the recent enrollment season that had a record number of enrollees and the use of 1095 tax forms this year.
- He also described the efforts between the Obama administration and state-run marketplaces, stating he and his staff have visited 13 states and he has met with 20 marketplace CEOs.
Dive Insight:
UnitedHealth sent ripples through the markets last November when it announced it might withdraw from the exchanges due to high losses. Counihan told attendees at the AHIP forum, "we're seeing the maturing of a marketplace - people getting a bit more experienced and comfortable on how to buy coverage."
According to The Hill, Andy Slavitt, acting administrator for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), told the group, "the exchange is still in its early stages," and added that consumers are still learning about their coverage. "And for our part, we're watching closely, looking at the data and making sure that we operate an exchange that continues to work."
An estimated 12.7 million people signed up for new marketplace health plans or were automatically re-enrolled as of January 31, the end of the latest open enrollment, reported Healthcare Dive.