HHS reports on premium subsidies in 2015 federally-facilitated Marketplace

Almost 6.5 million people have qualified for an advance premium tax credit to purchase health insurance through HealthCare.gov during 2015 open enrollment, according to a report released yesterday by the Department of Health and Human Services. That represents 87% of people who selected or re-enrolled in a plan in the 37 states using the HealthCare.gov platform, the agency said. Those subsidies are expected to reduce premiums for enrollees by more than $1 billion a month, or $268 per person on average, based on plan selections and re-enrollments as of Jan. 30, HHS said. About 53% of people selected or re-enrolled in a plan with a net premium of $100 or less after the advance premium tax credit. Open enrollment in the Health Insurance Marketplace runs through Feb. 15.