Managed care organizations continued to lose commercial health plan members between July 2009 and January 2010, but that decrease was only about half the size of the decrease experienced during the first half of 2009, according to HealthLeaders-InterStudy.
Commercial medical enrollment declined by 1.23 million over the last six months of the year, compared with a 2.54 million drop over the preceding six months, a recent study indicated. As of January 2010, national commercial medical benefit enrollment stands at 162.88 million, the study said.
The findings are from the newest release of Managed Market Surveyor-Rx, a database from HealthLeaders-InterStudy that delivers medical and pharmacy benefit enrollment by managed care organization and geography.
The study also found that commercial enrollment in pharmacy benefits also fell at a reduced pace, though it experienced greater decreases than medical benefits. Between July 2009 and January 2010, commercial pharmacy benefit enrollment fell 1.66 million to 115.22 million. Over 2009, commercial pharmacy benefit enrollment dropped by 5.12 million members, according to the study
According to Rebecca Waller, a senior health plan analyst with HealthLeaders-InterStudy, while the rate of commercial benefit enrollment losses declined over the second half of 2009, enrollment decreases nationwide will likely continue.
"Group health insurance premiums continue to rise, and some employers can not retain group insurance coverage or do so at noticeably lower benefit levels," she said. "For instance, pharmaceutical coverage is often an expense that is excluded to reduce insurance costs, which is why commercial pharmacy benefit coverage has seen more losses than medical coverage."
The study found nationwide Medicaid enrollment rose nearly 3.89 million in 2009, or 7.77 percent, to 54.41 million. Approximately 2.1 million members were added over the first half of the year, with another 1.79 million added between July 2009 and January 2010.
Researchers said key factors contributing to Medicaid growth include unemployment levels and the economic downturn. In addition, they said, many states have changed eligibility rules for state Medicaid programs, expanding the eligible pool.