Only those who paid premium are counted during first open-enrollment period under the federal Affordable Care Act.
“We are extremely happy with the number of individuals who selected Geisinger Health Plan for their health insurance coverage,” says David Brady, vice president of health care reform and commercial business development. “We felt it was important to offer individuals who were shopping on the marketplace a choice of coverage options that focused on quality and customer service. Based on our results, Pennsylvanians agreed.”
Geisinger Health Plan offered 26 plans on the federal marketplace and GeisingerMarketplace.com, its private site, the company said in a statement.
Amy Bowen, a company spokeswoman, said Geisinger Health only counted new members who paid their first premium.
Regionally, the company’s plans also are marketed in Berks, Carbon, Monroe and Schuylkill counties.
The company also said that 87 percent of those who signed up are new to Geisinger, the distribution was equal between men and women, and 32 percent are under 34 years old. Among the other new members, 40 percent are 35-54 and 28 percent are 55-64. The age distribution of the new members is important because insurance companies look to balance off older, generally sicker members with younger members who usually file fewer claims.
In addition, 37 percent of the marketplace members enrolled in GHP Extra, a coverage option using a patient-centered medical home model. Under that model, physicians act as a team, usually under the direction of the primary care physician, to improve coordination of care and lower costs. Members who choose that option in return pay lower co-payments for office visits.
Geisinger is the second private insurance company to announce its marketplace results from the first open enrollment period. The state’s largest insurer, Highmark Inc., said it signed up 177,456 total new members with 131,264 on the federal marketplace and 46,192 off the marketplace in its own plans.
Date: May 14, 2014