The latest enrollment snapshot report from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services shows a brisk pace of enrollments through the Health Insurance Marketplace. 

Four weeks into the open enrollment period, more than 2.7 million people nationally have selected plans through HealthCare.gov, CMS reported yesterday. The total represents more than 600,000 additional enrollees compared to this time last year. 

Total New Jersey enrollments at this point are 79,212. While this represents an increase of 13,997 plan selections over the same time period in last year’s open enrollment, the outlook remains cautious with only two weeks left in this enrollment period. However, it is unlikely this figure includes all auto-renewals. 

Per the federal website regtap.com – an information hub for CMS technical assistance related to Marketplace and Premium Stabilization programs – health plans are receiving batch auto-renewal data in two waves. The first wave began Oct. 10, while the second wave will commence in December. The current enrollment figures do not report the number of consumers who have paid premiums to effectuate their enrollment.

It is also important to note that late 2017 enrollments (that is, those enrolled for the first time with an effective date of Dec. 1, 2017) and active re-enrollees who started an application before being batch auto-enrolled are the two major groups that an issuer will receive for the first time in December.

All providers are encouraged to share information with their patients about the importance of shopping for coverage. Both NJHA and the American Hospital Association have resources to assist with promoting open enrollment.