Your Health Idaho website handles thousands of visitors

Your Health Idaho officials said they had a smooth enrollment opening during Monday’s conference call.

“We saw a tremendous interest in just the first two days of open enrollment,” said executive director Patrick Kelly. “We had 13,000 unique visitors to our website over the first two days, and about 700 calls into our call center.”

Idaho is the first republican state to branch off from the federal government’s health exchange website, health.gov, and launch its own technology platform. Kelly said the Idaho operated exchange should be able to prevent technical problems and glitches that delayed last years enrollments, while offering more coverage options for Idahoans.

“Your health Idaho is controlled by Idahoans,” said Kelly. “We have control over everything from the marketplace itself to the carriers that are on the exchange, as well as all the plans that are offered. Instead of the federal government controlling things that happen in Idaho, Idahoans control it this year.”

Kelly said Idahoans also have the advantage of carrier competition with 52 additional plan options to keep rates affordable. Although those who signed up last year will be automatically re-enrolled in their current healthcare plan, the organization is encouraging them to consider other plan options during this open enrollment period.

“They can go out and evaluate their current plan and what the other options are on the marketplace,” he said. “If their family situation has changed, this allows them time to really evaluate their options. If they need to work with an agent or broker they can evaluate their situation and make sure they’re really in the best plan that’s available for their family.”

The first set of enrollment numbers will be available by early December. Open enrollment started Nov. 15 and goes until Feb. 15, but people who want their coverage to start by Jan. 1 need to enroll by Dec. 15.

Your Health Idaho will host enrollment events over the next few weeks to help with the process. Brokers and agents will be available free of charge on Wednesday from 2-6 p.m. at Eastern Idaho Technical College on 1600 S 25th St. E, Idaho Falls, Idaho.

Pocatello will also hold a free enrollment open house from 2 to 6 p.m. at the Red Lion Hotel, 1555 Pocatello Creek Rd. on Tuesday.

Last year, approximately 76,000 Idahoans signed up for private health insurance through the state-based exchange.