Associated Press Published

Health Insurance Coverage Increases in W.Va.

Dr.jpg

  The number of West Virginians getting health insurance through two programs has increased more than in almost any other state since Medicaid was expanded under the Affordable Care Act.

That’s according to federal data released this week on those enrolled in Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program as of April 30.

The Charleston Gazette reports that nearly 154,000 West Virginians had enrolled in one of the programs since open enrollment began.

That makes for an increase of more than 43 percent in Medicaid and CHIP enrollment, the second largest of any state. Oregon saw enrollment increase by nearly 50 percent.

According to state figures, 508,496 West Virginians now have health insurance under one of the two programs. That’s more than a quarter of the state’s population.