Most small businesses don’t finish enrolling in HealthSource RI

OF THE 1,132 small businesses that have initiated HealthSource RI enrollment applications, only 133, or 11.7 percent, have completed enrollment, according to HealthSource RI data released Tuesday.
OF THE 1,132 small businesses that have initiated HealthSource RI enrollment applications, only 133, or 11.7 percent, have completed enrollment, according to HealthSource RI data released Tuesday.

(Updated, 1:57 p.m.)

PROVIDENCE – More than 16,000 individuals and 130 small businesses signed up and paid for health insurance through HealthSource RI as of March 8, the state’s public health benefits exchange said Tuesday.

The latest enrollment totals boosted the number of individuals and families getting insurance through the exchange 16 percent from the 14,086 paid enrollments reported through Feb. 8.

On top of the 16,345 paid enrollments as of March 8, another 3,345 individuals and families have initiated applications but have not paid.

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Individuals and families have until the March 31 open enrollment deadline to sign up for insurance through HealthSource RI. After March 31, open enrollment will not resume again until the fall.

The 133 small businesses enrolled through HealthSource RI increased from 107 enrolled businesses on Feb. 8. The 133 businesses represented 491 employees and 795 total lives covered.

However, 1,132 employers have initiated HealthSource RI enrollment applications they did not complete, suggesting many more businesses may have explored getting insurance through the exchange but declined or became frustrated in the process.

There is no deadline for businesses to enroll through the exchange.

Of the total paid and unpaid individual and family plan enrollments through the exchange, the vast majority, 19,039, have been with Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island and only 651 with Neighborhood Health Plan of Rhode Island.

Small business enrollments were not included in the breakdown of enrollments by carrier, and for that reason, enrollment totals for UnitedHealthcare of New England plans – available only through the Small Business Health Options marketplace – are not available.

In addition to individual and family enrollments, 48,602 Rhode Islanders have signed up for Medicaid through HealthSource RI as of March 8.

HealthSource RI enrollment breakdown by age:

  • Under age 18: 996
  • Age 18-25: 1,997
  • Age 26-34: 3,168
  • Age 35-44: 3,284
  • Age 45-54: 4,470
  • Over age 55: 5,775

HealthSource RI enrollment breakdown by gender:

  • Male: 9,100
  • Female: 10,590

HealthSource RI enrollment breakdown by plan type:

  • Catastrophic: 158
  • Bronze-level plan: 4,457
  • Silver-level plan: 11,794
  • Gold-level plan: 3,281

HealthSource RI enrollment breakdown by financial assistance received:

  • No financial assistance: 2,284
  • Advanced premium tax credits: 7,401
  • Advanced premium tax credits and cost-sharing reductions: 10,005

HealthSource RI enrollment breakdown by carrier selected:

  • Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island: 19,039
  • Neighborhood Health Plan of Rhode Island: 651

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