California has seen a surge in private-insurance-plan signups lately, but the majority of sign-ups are older people.
Covered California, the state’s health-insurance exchange, said yesterday that almost 80,000 people have signed up for private plans as of November 19. However, around 56 percent of its October signups are over the age of 45, and 34 percent between 55 and 64. The number of older Californians signed up is over twice this demographic’s percentage of the state’s population; altogether, adults ages 45-64 only make up 25 percent of Golden State residents.
Those 34 and under make up 28 percent of signups despite making up 49 percent of the state’s population, according to Forbes.
California isn’t the only state to see a high number of older residents sign up through the health-care exchanges; 36 percent of enrollees in Connecticut, Kentucky, Maryland, and Washington are aged 55-64.