HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — The first day of open enrollment for the state’s new health insurance exchange was cheered as a success by Connecticut officials.
Tens of thousands of people visited the website of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) exchange or called the toll-free number seeking information; 167 actually signed up for health plans.
At an enrollment fair held at the Community Health Center of New Britain, there was a steady stream of applicants who had either scheduled appointments for enrollment assistance, or walked in off the street hoping to sign up for coverage. The health center serves about 26,000 uninsured residents.
Despite some computer glitch issues and delays, 48-year-old Elly Banos said she was still pleased to be one step closer to enrolling in health insurance. The New Britain woman, who spent the entire afternoon at the health center going through her options, has been without coverage for year-and-a-half due to a layoff. She said she’s been holding her breath and “thanking God every day that I don’t get sick or get into a car accident.”
When she heard about the open enrollment, Banos said she decided to sign up on the first day.
“I don’t want to wait for the last minute,” said Banos, who was excited to learn she could get good individual coverage for $70 to $200 a month, or possibly qualify for the expanded Medicaid coverage.
Adrienne Lombardo, 63, of New Britain, has been without insurance coverage for two years and was excited about the prospect of possibly getting Medicaid coverage.
“Now I can get something done for my knee instead of worrying that my knee is getting worse,” she said.
Of the 167 health plan enrollees, 83 were for subsidized purchases of commercial insurance products and 84 for Medicaid. Officials at Access Health CT, the PPACA exchange, expect to enroll about 100,000 between now and March 31.