Health care enrollment drops

HARTFORD — As the deadline approaches for enrollment in health insurance plans for 2019 , it looks as if Connecticut’s enrollment has dipped slightly since the end of November.

But it might not be a fair comparison.

As of Dec. 7, Access Health CT reported that there were 95,325 individuals enrolled in plans offered by two private health insurance companies on the exchange. That’s down about 5,700 from the 101,054 individuals enrolled as of Nov. 30.

However, Access Health officials say the number at the end of November included those who had been enrolled in 2018 plans who had not taken any action on 2019 plans.

Access Health officials said the Dec. 7 enrollment number includes only 2019 enrollments, both new enrollees and auto-enrollees.

Those who purchased plans in 2018 automatically were re-enrolled in their plan starting on Nov. 19, but are able to change their plan at any point before midnight Dec. 15.

Connecticut consumers have until midnight Dec. 15 to enroll in a plan that provides health coverage for 2019.

If Connecticut’s enrollment has dipped it would mirror what’s happening nationally.

Enrollment nationwide for the 39 states that use the federal exchange is around 4.13 million, according to data from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. That’s down from around 4.6 million last year at this same time.