More than 4,600 Arkansans were approved for coverage in the state's expanded Medicaid program in November, bringing the total number covered to 223,456, a spokesman for the state Department of Human Services said Friday.
Meanwhile, more than 3,200 people who did not qualify for Medicaid enrolled in plans on Arkansas' insurance exchange in the first 16 days after open enrollment began, a spokesman for the Arkansas Insurance Department said.
Of those who had completed enrollment in Medicaid-funded coverage as of Nov. 30, 188,083 were covered by plans on the exchange under the so-called private option.
An additional 25,117 Arkansans had been assigned to the traditional Medicaid program because they were considered to have exceptional health needs.
The total number approved also included more than 10,000 people who had not yet completed enrollment.
An estimated 250,000 Arkansans became eligible for Medicaid-funded coverage under the expansion, which took effect Jan. 1.
"We never expect 100 percent enrollment in any program," Human Services spokesman Amy Webb said. "That would be a bit unusual, but this is also a program that helps people get life-saving services."
Authorized under the 2010 federal health care overhaul law and approved by the state Legislature in 2013, the expansion extended eligibility to adults under age 65 with incomes of up to 138 percent of the poverty level: $16,105 for an individual, for instance, or $32,913 for a family of four.
The private option uses federal Medicaid funds to pay the premiums for plans on the state's health insurance exchange and provides additional subsidies that reduce or eliminate enrollees' out-of-pocket costs for medical care.
Federal tax credit subsidies are available to many people who don't qualify for Medicaid but have incomes of less than 400 percent of the poverty level: $45,960 for an individual, for example, or $94,200 for a family of four.
Enrollment began Oct. 1, 2013, for coverage that started in January.
The 4,612 Arkansans approved for Medicaid-funded coverage in November was a drop from the past few months. In October, for instance, more than 7,600 people were approved. Enrollment has generally slowed compared to earlier in the year, when more than 10,000 people were approved each month.
"We don't really know what causes the fluctuation in the numbers, but we do expect fluctuations to continue as the program matures," Webb said.
Among those who did not qualify for Medicaid, enrollment on the exchange grew to 39,883 as of Dec. 1, Insurance Department spokesman Seth Blomeley said.
That was an increase of 3,235 from the 36,648 people who were enrolled as of Nov. 15, the first day of open enrollment for coverage starting Jan. 1.
While those who qualify for Medicaid can apply and sign up at any time, enrollment for others is mostly limited to annual open-enrollment periods.
The open-enrollment period for coverage starting next year runs through Feb. 15. The deadline to sign up for coverage starting Jan. 1 is Dec. 15.
In a news release Friday, the Insurance Department said Arkansans enrolled in non-Medicaid plans on the exchange are receiving an average of $293 per month in tax credits, lowering their premiums to an average of $94 per month.
"Consumers in the market for health insurance should take a few minutes now to learn about their options," Insurance Commissioner Jay Bradford said in the news release. "Over the next several days, they have time to discuss with family members the plan that will best suit their expected healthcare needs and their family budget."
Metro on 12/06/2014