Insurance exchange enrollees found to have high rate of serious illness

Data on those Americans who enrolled in insurance benefits through the federal and state marketplaces recently showed these enrollees have a higher rate of serious illness than those who receive health insurance through other means.

According to The Wall Street Journal, an analysis of data from nearly 200 insurers found that 27 percent of marketplace enrollees have serious health issues. Diabetes was found to be the most common health condition among enrollees, with asthma and depression also common. One insurer with plans on the exchanges found marketplace enrollees had a higher rate of poor health than those who signed up for benefits through their employers or another means. Marketplace enrollees also had a higher prevalence of chronic pain. 

These conditions tend to be expensive as well, according to Forbes, especially when utilization is taken into account. Enrollees with these conditions need more healthcare, which increases cost. 

Even enrollees between the ages of 18 and 34 were found to have a higher rate of serious illness than their health insurance counterparts. 

The Journal noted healthier people may end up sticking with traditional health insurance benefits plans rather than use the exchanges.