OH – Anthem BCBS to Exit Ohio ACA in 2018

June 2017 ~

Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield has announced it will leave the Affordable Care Act market in Ohio in 2018 and will reduce its footprint in the state to one off-exchange product in one county.

Approximately 67,000 Ohio residents will be impacted by this change and will need to pick new plans during open enrollment beginning November 1, 2017- December 15, 2017. Residents in 18 other counties may be limited to private, non-employer health insurance options.

Regarding the decision to exit the Ohio exchange, Anthem said in a statement, “Today, planning and pricing for ACA-compliant health plans has become increasingly difficult due to the shrinking individual market as well as continual changes in federal operations, rules and guidance. We are pleased that some steps have been taken to address the long term challenges all health plans serving the individual market are facing, such as improving the eligibility requirements that allow consumers to purchase a plan outside of open enrollment and improved risk adjustment. However, the Individual market remains volatile and the lack of certainty of funding for cost sharing reduction subsidies, the restoration of taxes on fully insured coverage and, an increasing lack of overall predictability simply does not provide a sustainable path forward to provide affordable plan choices for consumers.”

Source(s): Cleveland.com; Healthcare Finance News; United Press International; Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield; U.S. News;