Fewer exchange plans available in 2018, CMS says
Republican administration calls 38 percent decline in number of plans proof the Affordable Care Act is failing.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has released what it calls further proof the Affordable Care Act is failing in data showing a 38 percent decrease in the number of health plans available in the individual market for the upcoming open enrollment period compared to this year.
For 2018, 141 qualified health plans will be available in the federally-facilitated exchange market, compared to 227 offered in 2017 during the initial submission period.
By the start of the open enrollment period for 2017, issuer participation had fallen from the initial 227 plans to 167.
For the 2016 plan year, 281 issuers had submitted plans. That number was down to 237 by the time of open enrollment that November.
[Also: CMS releases map showing 47 counties without an insurer in the exchange market]
"This is further proof that the Affordable Care Act is failing," said CMS Administrator Seema Verma. "Insurers continue to flee the exchanges, causing Americans to lose their choice for health insurance or lose their coverage all together."
The numbers show the status quo is not working, she said.
Republican Senators are currently working on a healthcare bill to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act that became law in 2010 under President Obama. Verman was appointed under President Donald Trump.
[Also: Recess is over: Health bill debate gains traction]
Insurers are required to sign a final qualified health plan contract by the end of September to participate in the 2018 exchange market.
Insurers have submitted plans in the 39 states that use the federal exchange, but in June, CMS released a map showing 47 counties in the nation without an ACA insurance plan.
CMS said it expects this number to fluctuate over the next several months. Rates will be finalized by mid-August.
[Also: Uncertainty over insurance marketplaces grows as payers exit ACA exchanges]
The 2018 open enrollment period has been shortened to run from Nov. 1 to Dec. 15. In past years, it started on Nov. 1 and ran to Jan. 31 of the following year.
Twitter: @SusanJMorse
