PITTSBURGH, Pa. — More than 20,000 West Virginians have signed up for health insurance under the Affordable Care Act.
Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield released the figures Tuesday as the first enrollment period under the new health care law came to an end.
“We are pleased with the number of enrollees who have chosen Highmark, and we look forward to providing them with high-quality health insurance,” said Deborah Rice Johnson, president of Highmark Health Plan.
Highmark reported that 20,131 West Virginians enrolled — 14,839 through the federal exchange website and 5,282 by direct contact with the Highmark. The majority of those enrolled through the federal exchange qualify for subsidies for the gold, silver or bronze plans.
The health insurance company reports 63 percent of those signing up were previously uninsured or had insurance with another company. Highmark is the only insurance company participating in the exchange in West Virginia.
Fred Earley, president of Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield West Virginia, admitted the deadline did not meet its enrollment expectations.
“Although lower than our original projections, we are pleased with the results, especially considering early technical problems with Healthcare.gov that delayed enrollments,” Earley said in prepared statement.
The numbers do not includes thousands of West Virginians who have signed up for insurance under the expansion of Medicaid, the government health care program for lower income Americans.
Highmark also said 148,003 people signed up in Pennsylvania and another 13,010 in Delaware.