Analysis Estimates PPACA Medicaid Enrollment at 2.4M to 3.5M

From October through January, between 2.4 million and 3.5 million people enrolled in Medicaid because of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, according to analysis by healthcare business advisory company Avalere Health.

Including both states that have expanded their Medicaid programs and those that have not, application rates were up by 27 percent on average during the time period from October through January, compared with enrollment rates in the summer of 2013, according to the analysis. Application rates in states that are expanding Medicaid this year increased by 41 percent.

Avalere's enrollment estimates included people who are newly eligible because of Medicaid expansion and those who were previously eligible but only recently enrolled because of greater awareness of their coverage options.

Last week, HHS reported more than 8.9 million people were deemed eligible for Medicaid or for the Children's Health Insurance Program through state agencies or through the state-based marketplaces between October and January. Another 1.2 million have been assessed as eligible for Medicaid through the federal exchange site, HealthCare.gov, according to Avalere.

This year, 25 states and the District of Columbia are moving forward with expanding their Medicaid programs to cover people earning as much as 138 percent of the federal poverty level, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. Six states are still debating expansion, while 19 aren't moving forward with it at this time.

More Articles on Medicaid:
HHS: More Than 8.9M Deemed Eligible for Medicaid, CHIP
Medicaid Expansion Alternative in Arkansas Faces Legislative Jeopardy
Utah Governor Voices Support for Medicaid Expansion Alternative