The Affordable Care Act (ACA) has had a significant impact on healthcare enrollment in Kansas, with a record 171,000 Kansans enrolling in the subsidized health insurance marketplace this year. This marks a substantial increase of more than 60,000 enrollees over the past two years, according to a report by the nonprofit, nonpartisan Kansas Health Institute.
Enrollment in Kansas for the 2024 plan year saw a notable 37.7% increase from the 124,000 total in 2023 and the 107,000 total in 2022. Nationally, enrollment in the ACA reached 21.5 million in 2024, representing a 31.1% rise from the previous year.
The report also highlighted that twenty-two of Kansas‘ 105 counties had more than 7.1% of the population enrolled in health insurance through the federally assisted marketplace, while six counties enrolled less than 4% of the population in the marketplace insurance system. Notably, enrollment growth was documented in southeast Kansas, with Allen County seeing 7.6% of its population participating in the subsidized insurance marketplace.
Rhonda Culp, director of Care Coordination at Thrive Allen County, emphasized the importance of community outreach efforts in reaching eligible individuals. These efforts include a range of activities such as fairs, back-to-school events, promotions, billboards, radio and newspaper ads, as well as social media campaigns.
In Kansas, the marketplace offered 98 plans from eight companies during 2024, with every county having at least two insurance options available. Tax credits played a significant role in making monthly premiums more affordable for enrollees, with 93.3% of marketplace enrollees in Kansas taking advantage of enhanced tax credits to lower premium payments in 2024. On average, Kansans paid $111 per month for health insurance premiums, a $28 decrease compared to 2023.
The report also highlighted the extension of enhanced financial assistance through the American Rescue Plan and the Inflation Reduction Act through the 2025 plan year. However, without the renewal of these special subsidies, enrollment in the Kansas marketplace in 2026 could potentially return to 2021 levels, leading to an increase in the number of Kansans without health insurance.
Molly Gotobed, director at the Community Health Council of Wyandotte County, emphasized the collaborative efforts at the state and county levels that helped link eligible families in Wyandotte County to ACA health care. In 2024, 7.4% of the county’s population, or 13,000 people, secured health insurance through the marketplace.
Overall, the report indicated that 201,000 Kansans applied for a marketplace health plan in the 2024 benefit year, with 192,000 declared eligible. Ultimately, 171,376 individuals completed the enrollment process by selecting a plan or were automatically re-enrolled. One in four Kansas enrollees were new consumers of the marketplace.
The age breakdown of Kansas marketplace enrollees in 2024 showed a diverse range of participants, with individuals aged 55-64 representing the largest group at 25.4% of total enrollees. The federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services issued a warning in May regarding fraudulent ACA enrollment activity in 32 states, including Kansas. The Kansas Department of Insurance identified 24 complaints related to unauthorized enrollment activities by insurance agents tied to marketplace scams.
In conclusion, the record enrollment in the subsidized health insurance marketplace under the ACA in Kansas reflects the importance of accessible and affordable healthcare options for residents. Continued efforts to educate and assist eligible individuals in enrolling in health insurance plans will be crucial in ensuring that Kansans have access to essential healthcare services.