Data Note: Changes in Enrollment in the Individual Health Insurance Market through Early 2019

KFF Health News August 21, 2019
Rachel Fehr, Cynthia Cox and Larry Levitt

The individual health insurance market – where people go to buy their own coverage both through the exchange Marketplaces and off-exchange directly from insurers or brokers – grew rapidly following implementation of the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) subsidies and prohibition of discrimination based on pre-existing conditions. However, these enrollment gains were partially offset by subsequent declines, particularly among people not receiving subsidies amid steep premium increases. Most recently, the ACA’s individual mandate penalty was effectively repealed going into 2019, raising questions over whether enrollment would continue to drop.

Enrollment in the individual market dips slightly in first quarter of 2019 after repeal of individual mandate penalty, though ACA Marketplace plan enrollment holds steady via @KFF