Colorado’s health insurance exchange reported Tuesday that a record number of residents have signed up for commercial coverage.
Since Nov. 1, 211,579 residents enrolled in new policies, renewed existing policies or qualified for medical assistance plans, Connect for Health Colorado announced.
That total includes 153,583 people enrolled in private health care coverage, 54,447 eligible for Medicaid and 3,549 in the Child Health Plan Plus.
By comparison, 141,639 people signed up for private health care in the previous open enrollment period ending Feb. 15, 2015. Officials said at the time roughly 76,200 people signed up for Medicaid and 3,700 in Child Health Plan Plus.
In the latest enrollment period, 62 percent were people renewing plans and 38 percent were new.
The exchange acts as a middleman between people shopping for health coverage and insurance providers. Federal tax credits for acquiring coverage can be obtained only through the exchange.
“I am pleased that so many Coloradans took the important step of getting health coverage through us,” exchange chief Kevin Patterson said. “Those folks now have more financial security and the ability to get the health care they need.”
For most Colorado residents, the enrollment period for 2016 coverage ended Jan. 31. In a deadline push for signups, the exchange extended its hours and reminded people last week of federal tax penalties for going without insurance.
People who lost their insurance policies, such as members of Colorado HealthOp, qualify for a special enrollment period that ends Feb. 29. Life-changing events, such as a marriage or birth of a baby, also may enable people to seek insurance policy changes.
Date: February 2, 2016