Rapid enrollment pace set to hit 250,000 by end of month
FRANKFORT, Ky. (Feb. 17, 2014) – One out of every 19 Kentuckians is enrolled in health insurance through kynect, and the rate of signups continues to accelerate more than four months after kynect launched. The site enrolls an average of 1,700 Kentuckians per day in affordable, reliable health insurance. If this rate continues, more than a quarter of a million Kentuckians may be enrolled by the end of February.
“When we began signing up Kentuckians on October 1, we averaged 1,000 enrollments per day. At the time, we expected that rate to slow down after a few weeks, but it never has. In fact, Kentuckians’ interest and enrollment pace has only increased,” said Gov. Steve Beshear. “We have added staff and website capacity to handle the crush of signups. I’m pleased that even though more than a million people have visited the kynect website, signups remain simple and largely glitch-free for the thousands of Kentuckians seeking reliable, affordable health care.”
kynect administrators report that the website consistently supports 2,000 concurrent users during heaviest usage times.
kynect has been hailed as a national model since its launch for its smooth operation and easy interface for users looking for affordable health coverage.
With approximately 15 percent of the state’s population (640,000) uninsured prior to the start of open enrollment on Oct. 1, kynect is helping to significantly reduce the number of families surviving without health insurance and ensure access to quality, affordable care each day.
Nearly half of all enrollees are under 35
About 108,000 Kentuckians enrolled in health insurance through kynect are under age 35, which is almost 47 percent of all enrollments.
In the private health plans, about one-third of all enrollees (32 percent) are under age 35, a figure which has held steady for several months.
Six weeks remain in open enrollment
Open enrollment continues through March 31 for any Kentuckian seeking health insurance.
For Kentuckians seeking private health insurance coverage with a start date of March 1, kynect recommends completing an application on or before Feb. 15.
Through Feb. 18 at 5 a.m., the Social Security Administration and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) will conduct annual systems maintenance that will affect kynect’s ability to verify Social Security numbers, income and other related data. As a result, it is possible that kynect may not be able to complete your application during this window of time. You may be asked to send in information for verification. People who intend to enroll in coverage and have already completed an application can continue to shop and pick a plan.
Who can enroll through kynect
Although most Kentuckians get health insurance through their employer or through a program like Medicare, any Kentuckian seeking health insurance can check kynect for affordable plans and eligibility.
About 308,000 Kentuckians will qualify for Medicaid under new enrollment guidelines. Many of these families are the working poor – they have jobs but cannot afford or qualify for health insurance through their work.
Another 332,000 are eligible to purchase private health plans. Of that group who are uninsured but not eligible for Medicaid, the vast majority (about 282,000) will qualify for premium assistance based on their income.
Provided individuals meet all the eligibility requirements (Kentucky resident; U.S. citizen, national, or qualified alien status; not currently in prison and can provide proof of income):
♦ An individual making less than $15,856 will qualify for Medicaid under the expansion.
♦ An individual making $15,857 – $45,960 will qualify for premium assistance.
♦ A family of four making less than $32,499 will be eligible for Medicaid.
♦ A family of four with a household income of $32,500 – $94,200 will be eligible for premium assistance.
For more answers to frequently asked questions, click here.
Biweekly statistics
The below statistics reflect activity on kynect as of 10 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 13:
♦ 231,367 Kentuckians are enrolled in new health coverage, including Medicaid and private insurance
♦ 181,705 have enrolled in Medicaid
♦ 49,662 have enrolled in a qualified private health plan
♦ More than 1 million unique website visitors viewing 38 million web pages
♦ 689,820 preliminary screenings
♦ 15,684 enrolled in standalone dental plans
♦ 59,655 have been found eligible for a subsidy to purchase a qualified health plan, some have yet to select a plan
♦ 512,694 calls handled by the kynect contact center
For further updates on kynect numbers, click here.
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