State exchange winners and losers from open enrollment round two
Connecticut
For many, Connecticut offers a glimmer of hope that state-run exchanges can succeed. The state enrolled 79,192 residents during the first open enrollment period and increased that number to 109,839 residents this past open enrollment period, noted HHS.
Additionally, 77 percent of Connecticut consumers who purchased plans through the state's exchange qualified for a tax credit. Here's how HHS broke down the final numbers for 2015: 35,698 residents under the age of 35 enrolled in a plan, with 27,789 of them young adults ages 18 to 34.
FierceHealthPayer award: Most Outstanding Performance
Vermont
The only way for Vermont to go in 2015 was up. During round one, technical problems on the state's exchange prevented many consumers from being able to pay for their chosen health plan, and the state enrolled only 38,048 residents.
Unfortunately, round two wasn't much better. After experiencing technical glitches yet again, this time preventing consumers from completing their applications, the state signed up only 31,619 residents, according to HHS.
If the state's lack of sign ups wasn't enough, in non-enrollment-figure-news, Gov. Peter Shumlin (D) announced in December he was pulling the plug for now on the state's unique plan for creating a single-payer healthcare system by 2017. However, this merely is a "small speed bump" for the state, FierceHealthPayer previously reported.
FierceHealthPayer award: Worst In Show
Oregon
Year one appeared to be too much for Oregon's state exchange. After enrolling 68,308 consumers amid technical issues that prohibited consumers from enrolling in one sitting, and despite receiving millions of federal dollars to jumpstart building the site, Cover Oregon decided to make the switch to Healthcare.gov for the second open enrollment period.
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