More than 20,000 West
Virginians have signed up for health insurance under the
Affordable Care Act.
Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield
released the figures Tuesday as the first enrollment period under the new
health care law came to an end.
“We are pleased with the number of
enrollees who have chosen Highmark, and we look forward to providing them with
high-quality health insurance,” said Deborah Rice Johnson, president of
Highmark Health Plan.
Highmark reported that 20,131 West Virginians enrolled — 14,839 through the federal
exchange website and 5,282 by direct contact with the Highmark. The majority of
those enrolled through the federal exchange qualify for subsidies for the gold,
silver or bronze plans.
The health insurance company
reports 63 percent of those signing up were previously uninsured or had
insurance with another company. Highmark is the only insurance company
participating in the exchange in West
Virginia
Fred Earley, president of Highmark
Blue Cross Blue Shield West Virginia
“Although lower than our original
projections, we are pleased with the results, especially considering early
technical problems with Healthcare.gov that delayed enrollments,” Earley said
in prepared statement.
The numbers do not includes
thousands of West Virginians who have signed
up for insurance under the expansion of Medicaid, the government health care
program for lower income Americans.
