West Virginia struggles with both economic health and population growth. Although the state has leaned Republican since the 2000 presidential election, it did not join in the Supreme Court case against the Affordable Care Act; in fact, it didn’t take a stance at all. The state did, however, opt to expand Medicaid coverage under Obamacare guidelines.
Enrollment through the Years
People in West Virginia enroll in Obamacare health insurance plans through the federal marketplace. Since 2015, there has been a slight increase in enrollment overall despite a moderate decline between last year and now.
- 33,421 West Virginians enrolled in 2015
- 37,284 West Virginians enrolled in 2016
- 34,045 West Virginians enrolled in 2017
In 2017, there were 8,483 new enrollees to marketplace health plans. The other 25,562 enrollees re-enrolled from the previous year. The drop from 2016 to 2017 may have been due to uncertainty surrounding the 2016 presidential election and what the election would mean for the future of Obamacare. West Virginia’s enrollees tend to be older, the 55-64 age demographic making up the largest portion of the state’s signup tally.
Thanks to Medicaid expansion under the ACA, approximately 180,500 people have become eligible for and enrolled in West Virginia’s Medicaid program.
Cost Assistance
Obamacare provides cost assistance to customers who earn between 100 and 400 percent of the federal poverty limit. This assistance comes in the form of premium-reducing government subsidies. In 2017, 84 percent of West Virginians who enrolled in a marketplace plan qualified for federal subsidies.
The Affordable Care Act also created cost-sharing reductions (CSRs), which are available to people earning up to 250 percent of the federal poverty limit. To take advantage of CSRs, which offset healthcare costs for the year, enrollees must choose a silver-level health plan. Half of West Virginia enrollees received CSRs in 2017.
Carrier Participation & Plan Availability
West Virginia had two carriers offering marketplace plans in 2017, and two carriers will offer plans in 2018. Also this year, there were 705 plans available on the exchange in West Virginia. Plan availability varies by county, meaning not every person has access to the same plans statewide.
Note: The information provided on this page is constantly being updated with the latest statistical data available. Check back soon for updates.
