Tampa Registers Nearly 114,000 Residents During Open Enrollment as Part of White House Challenge

During the third Open Enrollment Period of the Federal Health Insurance Marketplaces, Florida led the nation in enrollments with 1.7 million Floridians accessing health coverage, including nearly 114,000 Tampa residents as part of a challenge by the federal government.

As of January 30, 2016, the City of Tampa registered 113,821 residents for health insurance, nearly 37,000 more than the last round of open enrollment. Last fall, Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn accepted a 20-city Health Communities Challenge with mayors across America, with Tampa being the only Florida city invited to participate. While Milwaukee, Wis., prevailed, Tampa’s new enrollees reflect 49 percent of the city’s uninsured residents prior to open enrollment, the eleventh highest ratio of new plan selections to eligible uninsured in the country.

Mayor Buckhorn’s administration opened up its parks and recreation centers to Navigators to provide free, local assistance for consumers to get covered in 2016 health plans. Additionally, Mayor Buckhorn participated in in-person enrollment and outreach activities, placed ads in local newspapers, and recorded and distributed two rounds of robe-calls to residents.

“I want to congratulate Milwaukee for winning the Healthy Communities Challenge,” said Mayor Bob Buckhorn. “This round had a lot of stiff competition and in the end we all win.

“I’ve said it before, there is nothing more fundamental in our society than the right to affordable health care and when our neighbors are healthy our city thrives. Having health insurance ensures that whether it is for preventative care or in an emergency situation, our residents are able to receive the treatment they deserve.”