Just 10 states accounted for more than 80 percent of the 3 million Medicaid enrollees who’ve signed up under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act this year, according to fresh analysis.
Consulting firm Avalere Health analyzed government numbers, finding a wide disparity in Medicaid enrollment totals from state to state.
From October through February, California, Florida, Oregon and Washington enrolled the most new participants in the government health program for the poor, Avalere found. Florida is the only non-expansion state that’s seen new Medicaid enrollment numbers greater than 100,000, an 8.2 percent increase over summer 2013 levels.
“We continue to see dramatic variations across the states in terms of enrollment into new coverage programs,” said Jenna Stento, senior manager at Avalere Health. “While some differences may be a result of state decisions to expand Medicaid, certain non-expansion states are also seeing large increases in Medicaid enrollment.”
Though open enrollment for PPACA plans ended March 31, people can enroll in the program year-round.
The Congressional Budget Office estimated PPACA will result in 8 million new Medicaid enrollees in 2014. Last week the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced 3 million Americans enrolled in Medicaid through February 2014.