Most people buying health coverage in public exchanges are keeping it

The overwhelming majority of individuals who enrolled in plans offered through public health insurance exchanges during the 2016 open enrollment season have paid their premiums and still have active coverage, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

As of March 31, 11.1 million of the 12.7 million Americans who opted for coverage, or just over 87%, paid premiums for their first month of coverage, HHS said Thursday in a statement.

In addition, of those with active or “effectuated” coverage, about 85% were receiving federal premium subsidies. Those subsidies are available to those with incomes up to 400% of the federal poverty level, which is set at $11,880 for an individual in 2016.

As of March 31, states with the highest number of effectuated enrollees include Florida with 1,531,714; California with 1,415,428; Texas with 1,092,650; North Carolina with 545,354; and Georgia with 478,016.

States with the lowest number of effectuated enrollees include Hawaii with 13,313; the District of Columbia with 17,666; Alaska with 17,995; North Dakota with 20,536; and Wyoming with 22,076.