The New Mexico Health Exchange reports that a total of 51,400 people have signed up for insurance coverage, either under the Affordable Care Act or directly through health insurance companies as of March 31.
The numbers seem large because unlike past reports, this one includes insurance exchange (or marketplace) shoppers and individuals and groups purchasing plans that are separate from the ACA.
Aaron Ezekiel, director of the ACA implementation in the Office of the State Insurance Superintendent tellsKUNM that 26,412 enrollees are eligible for tax credits through the ACA (also known as Obamacare), while 14-thousand signed up under a group plan through their employer (not on the healthcare exchange), and almost 11-thousand individuals chose a healthcare plan not offered under Obamacare (called "Off-Exchange").
Ezekiel said he was pleased with the numbers, and that he expects them to grow after final tallies. A news release from NMHIX stated that the new enrollment numbers represented a 76-percent increase over February numbers, when 15,012 people had enrolled in qualified health plans ("On-Exchange").
He noted that people who weren’t able to complete the sign-up process can still call 1-855-99-NMHIX, listed on BeWellNM.com, and enroll, even though the deadline has passed.
The NM Human Services Department reports 107,118 people have enrolled in Medicaid since expansion began last fall. Total enrollment for the program that serves pregnant women, low-income adults and families with children, and people living with disabilities is now at 632,489, according to HSD spokesman Matt Kennicott.
