Non-group enrollment spiked in 2015

Kaiser Family Foundation found 48 percent increase from last year's open enrollment period
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Nearly 59 percent of eligible consumers enrolled in a marketplace plan in 2015, a 48 percent jump from last year's open enrollment period, according to a recent analysis from the Kaiser Family Foundation.

The analysis questioned individuals who purchased coverage in the non-group market following the second enrollment period, which ended April 5. Additionally, the survey includes those who purchased Affordable Care Act-compliant coverage inside or outside of a marketplace, as well as those enrolled in non-ACA compliant plans.

KFF found that insurers continue to sell plans outside the marketplaces. Seven percent of all non-group enrollees reported having ACA-compliant, non-marketplace plans, while an additional 17 percent purchased ACA-compliant plans from either an insurer or a broker.

The second open enrollment period attracted a number of new consumers. KFF found that 36 percent of those with ACA-compliant plans did not have non-group coverage in 2014. Of this population, 72 percent were new to the non-group market, while 26 percent had ACA-compliant coverage.

Almost 70 percent of those who renewed an ACA-compliant plan did not shop around before renewing, the analysis found. Thirty-five percent noted they did not shop around because they were satisfied with their current plan. Close to 60 percent of those who did shop around, however, said they had the right number of plans to choose from.

When it comes to the cost of coverage, 38 percent noted that monthly premiums were an important factor when deciding which plan to choose, while 32 percent factored in the cost of deductibles and copays. Even though cost remained an important decision for consumers, one in four adults with non-group coverage did not receive care last year because it cost too much, FierceHealthPayer previously reported.

For more:
- here's the KFF analysis

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