Nearly 200K get health insurance in Tennessee

Jan. 27--"With just four weeks before the Feb. 15 deadline and the end of open enrollment, 184,486 Tennessee consumers are counting on the marketplace for affordable health coverage," Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia M. Burwell said. "Last week, just before the deadline for Feb. 1 coverage, about 172,530 people in Tennessee selected a plan that worked for their family. Time is running out. If you don't have health coverage, visit healthcare.gov or contact the marketplace call center to learn about your options and the financial help that is available."

Facts about open enrollment in Tennessee include:

--in the first month of open enrollment, 83 percent of Tennessee consumers who selected health insurance plans were determined eligible for financial assistance to lower their monthly premiums.

--in Tennessee, consumers can choose from five issuers in the marketplace in 2015 -- up from four in 2014.

--Tennessee consumers can choose from an average of 71 health plans in their county for 2015 coverage -- up from 48 in 2014.

--76 percent of Tennessee marketplace enrollees as of December could get coverage for $100 or less after any applicable tax credits in 2015.

Open enrollment for the health insurance marketplace began Nov. 15 and runs through Feb. 15. Consumers should visit healthcare.gov to review and compare health plan options and find out if they are eligible for financial assistance, which can help pay monthly premiums and reduce out-of-pocket costs when receiving services.

To sign up for individual and family coverage, visit healthcare.gov/apply-and-enroll.

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