Anthem reenters Virginia marketplace to ensure coverage for bare counties
Anthem filed to revise its individual health plan offerings for 2018 to include both on-and-off exchange individual plans in 68 cities and counties.
Anthem has reversed a decision to withdraw from the exchange market in Virginia after learning that 63 counties and cities in the state would not have access to individual health plans.
"Anthem has been engaged in further evaluation and discussion with regulators to ensure that no bare counties or cities exist in the state," the insurer said by statement. "As a result of the ongoing discussions ... Anthem filed to revise its Individual health plan offerings for 2018 to include both on-and-off exchange individual plans in 68 cities and counties in Virginia."
[Also: Anthem leaves ACA markets in Missouri and Kentucky]
Of these, 63 would otherwise be bare of a marketplace plan, Anthem said. An estimated 70,000 residents now have access to individual coverage through the Affordable Care Act, Anthem said.
Anthem has withdrawn its footprint in the exchange market in numerous states, citing market instability and financial losses.
[Also: Last county without ACA insurer gains carrier]
This included Virginia, where other major insurers, UnitedHealth and Aetna also scaled back coverage, according to Optima Health. Optima Health said by statement it would continue to participate in the individual market in 2018, despite instability, but would limit its offerings to locations where there are Sentara Healthcare hospitals and physicians.
"With three national insurers--Anthem, Aetna and UnitedHealthcare--leaving the market, over 350,000 Virginians will be losing their healthcare coverage on January 1, 2018," Optima CEO Michael M. Dudley had said by statement.
[Also: New Anthem policy cuts hospital outpatient payment for MRIs, CT scans in 5 states]
Two opposing Senate plans are coming down to the wire in a deadline of September 30 to be included in budget reconciliation. A bipartisan plan aims to stabilize the insurance market while the Graham-Cassidy bill is a last-ditch effort at repeal and replace.
Twitter: @SusanJMorse
Email the writer: susan.morse@himssmedia.com
