AmeriHealth Caritas offering coverage to former Friday Health Plan members
Ex-Friday Health Plan members will have an opportunity to latch onto new health insurance coverage during a special enrollment period.
Photo: Tempura/Getty Images
After Nevada became the latest state to liquidate Friday Health Plans, beneficiaries and insurance officials fretted about placing people into new coverage. In North Carolina, one of the states in which Friday once conducted business, AmeriHealth Caritas is stepping up to fill the gap.
This week, the company said it would honor the payments already made toward 2023 plan year deductibles and out-of-pocket caps by former Friday Health Plans members who join AmeriHealth Caritas Next in North Carolina during a special open enrollment period through October 30.
WHAT'S THE IMPACT?
Following the announcement that Friday Health Plans would cease operation in North Carolina on Aug. 31, the North Carolina Department of Insurance implemented a special enrollment period for members to switch to a new Health Insurance Marketplace Plan. AmeriHealth Caritas Next plans are available to Friday members living in 26 counties in the state.
Enrollees can choose from four gold-level plans, seven silver-level plans and eight bronze-level plans. Each plan has varying premiums, deductibles, and co-payments. Some plans are available with low or zero premiums after federal government subsidies.
All plans include access to a comprehensive network of physicians, hospitals and other healthcare services, AmeriHealth Caritas said.
Friday Health Plans of North Carolina consented to being placed into receivership in late June, due to its reported insolvency and inability to raise additional funds from outside investors. Coverage for FHP-NC's policyholders that have health insurance through the federally facilitated exchange will end at the end of the day on August 31.
Friday Health Plans had operated in seven states; Nevada was the last of them to place it into receivership. Officials from the Nevada Division of Insurance advised providers that they should continue to service all members through August 31, and should not demand payment other than the proper cost share associated with the medical service and relevant health plan.
Once in liquidation, the Nevada Life and Health Insurance Guaranty Association will address provider claims for services performed on or before August 31, in accordance with the policy and Nevada law.
THE LARGER TREND
Friday Health Plans was launched in 2015. The Colorado Sun that the demise of the company had been brewing for some time. In 2022 the company pulled out of Texas and New Mexico and, as a result, offered plans in only five states in 2023.
Earlier this year, Texas regulators seized the company's assets in that state and began liquidating them, while operations in Oklahoma were placed under regulatory supervision in May.
Several weeks ago, Georgia's Office of Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner determined that continued operation of Friday Health Plans was not possible without putting policyholders at risk. According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, this could result in a loss of coverage for about 35,000 Georgians. Enrollees in other states will be affected as well, with the Colorado Sun estimating that about 30,000 Coloradans will need to seek new coverage.
Twitter: @JELagasse
Email the writer: Jeff.Lagasse@himssmedia.com
