Enrollment exceeding projections in R.I.

PROVIDENCE — Rhode Island has outpaced projected sign-ups for Obamacare next year with more than 30,700 residents now enrolled in health insurance through the state-based health insurance exchange.

HealthSource RI officials expected to see around 30,000 people in total enrolled by the end of December. With a little more than a week to go and the last days of open enrollment typically the busiest, numbers are sure to increase.

This year, roughly 4 percent of the state's population was uninsured, a rate that will almost certainly decrease next year, said HealthSource RI Executive Director Zach Sherman.

Some 5,700 people enrolled for the first time this year. That's more than three times the number of new enrollees in previous years.

"The good progress is indicative of our ability to drive awareness to open enrollment and the new deadlines," Sherman said. "We got out with our marketing awareness campaign earlier than in previous years, making sure people understood coverage is still available."

Concern swirled around open enrollment this year after multiple unsuccessful attempts in Congress were made to repeal the Affordable Care Act, known as Obamacare. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump's administration cut the length of the enrollment period in half for states in the federal marketplace and slashed federal advertising for the program. Rhode Island was afforded more flexibility because it has a state-based exchange.

Nationally, more than 8.8 million people have signed up in the 39 states that use the federal marketplace, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. That compares with 9.2 million people last year in the same states.

Rhode Island has made significant progress in sign-ups from what those in the industry refer to as the "young invincibles." Those are customers between the ages of 18 and 34, who are most likely to think that health care isn't essential. They are the largest uninsured age group in the state.

Roughly 25 percent of renewing HealthSource RI customers fall into that age group. But 34 percent of those signing up for the first time this year are between the ages of 18 and 34.

That's good news for the state, Sherman said, noting that the younger age group tends to be healthier. Therefore, when they enroll in coverage, they tend to contribute to stability for the market because they keep the cost of health insurance lower.

In anticipation of a surge in enrollments, HealthSource RI is extending walk-in hours and call center hours.

From Wednesday through Friday the call center at (855) 840-4774 will be open from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. On those days, the walk-in center at 401 Wampanoag Trail in East Providence will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. On Saturday, the call center and walk-in center will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The last day to sign up is Dec. 31.

Customers can also enroll online at www.HealthSourceRI.com.

— jbogdan@providencejournal.com

(401) 277-7493

On Twitter: @JenniferBogdan