Del. Health Insurance Marketplace sees record enrollment for 2022

DELAWARE – Enrollment on Delaware’s Health Insurance Marketplace for 2022 has set an all-time high, increasing nearly 27% over 2021’s open enrollment total.

We’re told this is attributed to strong public demand for coverage during the COVID-19 pandemic, enhanced federal subsidies, and Delaware’s reinsurance program keeping the cost of monthly premiums fairly steady.

During the state’s ninth open enrollment period, which began November 1, 2021, and ended January 15, 2022, a total of 32,113 Delawareans enrolled for health insurance on HealthCare.gov. For 2021, total enrollment was 25,320.

The Biden administration used American Rescue Plan Act funds to increase tax credits and expand subsidies further into the middle class. The majority of enrollees were eligible for financial assistance, which helps to reduce the cost of monthly premiums and/or deductibles and also lowers out-of-pocket healthcare costs.

Delawareans were able to choose from 13 health plans on the health insurance marketplace through Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield Delaware. Delta Dental of Delaware, Inc. and Dominion Dental Services, Inc. offer stand-alone dental plans on the marketplace. We’re told monthly premiums for the 2022 health plans were about 3% higher on average than the previous year, due in part to increases in prescription costs and an anticipation of elective procedures resuming after being postponed due to the pandemic. This year’s single-digit increase in premiums follows decreases the previous two enrollment years, totaling more than 19%. Officials say federal subsidies cut consumer costs nationwide by an average of 40%.