Only one ACA marketplace insurer remains statewide.
Aetna Will Leave ACA in N.C. in 2017
In the latest of a recent string of
hits to the Affordable Care Act’s healthcare exchange system, Aetna announced
it would leave almost 70 percent of the counties where it currently sells
health insurance coverage, remaining in only four states—down from 15—in 2017.
In North Carolina, this means that all Coventry Health Care plans offered
through HealthCare.gov will be eliminated.
Earlier this year, UnitedHealthcare
also announced it will leave North Carolina’s health insurance exchange in
2017. Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina, which also considered leaving
ACA in the state, is now the only remaining insurer to offer ACA plans through
HealthCare.gov. However, Cigna Corp., which is expanding coverage in some
places, plans to offer exchange plans in Raleigh.
WRAL.com reported that Aetna saw a
second quarter pre-tax loss of $200 million from individual insurance plans,
while BCBS lost more than $400 million on exchange plans in the last two years.
These losses have led to many insurers raising concerns about whether the ACA
marketplaces are sustainable.
Remember: Open enrollment begins
Nov. 1 and ends Jan. 31, 2017. For coverage that begins Jan. 1, 2017, you must
apply by Dec. 15.
