According to a new federal report, Vermont ranks the highest in the country for individuals who have signed up for health insurance on the state's health care exchange. The ranking is based as a percentage of a state’s overall population.
"Compared to other states, Vermont is doing relatively well in terms of signing up individuals and families for qualified health plans through Vermont Health Connect." - Robin Lunge, Health Care Reform Director
In Vermont, roughly 12,000 individuals have enrolled at Vermont Health Connect. In comparison, just under 1,600 individuals enrolled in the federally run exchange in New Hampshire.
The Shumlin Administration says about half of the Vermonters who signed up learned that they qualify for the expanded Medicaid program and many others were eligible for federal subsidies. Robin Lunge is the director of Health Care Reform for the Shumlin Administration.
“Compared to other states, Vermont is doing relatively well in terms of signing up individuals and families for qualified health plans through Vermont Health Connect,” said Lunge. “And also, I think, the other good news in this information is that we are seeing the numbers pick up as we expected more people are choosing plans as we get closer to Jan. 1.”
The federal report also shows that the nine states that have the highest percentage of individuals signing up all run their own exchanges. Sates that have a federally run exchange have the lowest participation rates, the report said.
