BCBSAZ is OUT of the Market in Phoenix

[Yagents]

looks like S Carolina market is in shambles

Health care experts question future of Obamacare marketplace in South Carolina - Post and Courier

 

[foxmarble]

Yep Yagents is right this is just a disaster in the making. I can't believe the lack of press on this it's unbelievable people don't have a clue what a big poop storm this is going to be. Getting ready to kiss goodbye almost 900 clients:(. Health choice of Arizona just announced they're out till the Department of Insurance last week. My agents and I are going to next four months converting every self-employed business owner to a small group plan, working on Medicare and life insurance to try and fill in what we know we're gonna lose. A small amount of cliens that have already contacted me makes me realize I want nothing to do with explaining this almost 900 times we're going to shoot a video to let people know. If anybody has any other strategies feel free to share.

 

[somarco]

The video is a good idea, especially if you couple it with a newsletter (Constant Contact style).

 

[yorkriver1]

This affects Phoenix (the major city in AZ). BCBSAZ is out of the IFP market here.

Recent email:

After months of reviewing options for our 2017 individual and family product line, we have reached a decision. We will continue selling individual under 65 health plans through the Health Insurance Marketplace. However, we are limiting where plans will be available.

Our focus is on the underserved and rural parts of our state. As a local company with deep community roots, we could not overlook that some areas would have no options or very limited access. That is why we will offer up to five different individual and family plans—pending approval—in 13 of Arizona's 15 counties. ACA individual plans will no longer be available in Maricopa and Pinal counties. Keep in mind these changes do not affect grandfathered and transitional (grandmothered) plans. We will support those plans no matter where the member resides.

We believe we have found a mix of plan types and benefits changes that will make these ACA plans sustainable for at least another year. Once we receive approval from CMS, we will send you information about the plans and rates.

We know this is not ideal, but in order to make plans available at a lower cost, we could not continue with statewide coverage. The decision to only serve the rural areas means approximately 44,000 members in Maricopa and Pinal will need to find another source of health insurance. For some that may mean choosing a different carrier. For others, they may consider a BCBSAZ short-term medical plan.

Your clients and our members can expect to receive information about their coverage and how to re-enroll or how to select a different plan starting in September.

We will share plan details and pricing once we receive regulatory approval. In the meantime, you can expect to receive support materials and FAQs in the coming days. If you have immediate questions please feel free to contact me.

Sincerely,

Mike Tilton, Vice President of Sales
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona​

Our BCBS carrier rolled out an STM partnership in early spring. Hmmmm.

 

[AllenChicago]

Our BCBS carrier rolled out an STM partnership in early spring. Hmmmm.

HHS saw this trend and put the hammer down shortly thereafter. (See the STM Thread). Our BCBS (IL) quietly pulled all STM plans recently.

 

[Yagents]

Phoenix is becoming a poster child for the ACA failed experiment.
Not a big loss, small low priced non commissionable carrier.
But, only 3 small HMO's left to sell in Phoenix. Sad.
Aug 9th is deadline to pull out.
Cigna / Aetna are two of the 3 left, both wrangled in DOJ merger lawsuit.
What your crystal ball say?

Arizona insurer exits roil Affordable Care Act marketplace


Arizona insurer exits roil Affordable Care Act marketplace
Ken Alltucker, The Republic | azcentral.com 7:22 p.m. MST July 21, 2016
The departure of Health Choice Insurance Co. from Arizona's Affordable Care Act marketplace next year will leave consumers in several counties with one less option.

Health Choice will drop Affordable Care Act marketplace plans in Arizona next year
Health Choice is the fifth health insurer that said it will exit or scale back coverage in Arizona

Another Arizona health insurance company has told state health-insurance regulators that it will exit the Affordable Care Act marketplace next year, leaving consumers in several counties with one less option.

Health Choice Insurance Co. officials confirmed that the insurer will drop marketplace plans in Arizona next year. The insurer sold plans in Maricopa, Pima and a handful of rural counties this year, but it won't sell any Affordable Care Act plans next year.

"The business and regulatory uncertainties that exist at this time with respect to the federal health-insurance marketplace significantly impacted our decision to discontinue our marketplace product offerings," said Health Choice Communications Director Laura Waugh. Waugh said the insurer's non-marketplace plans will not be affected.

Health Choice, owned by the Tennessee-based hospital chain Iasis Healthcare, is the latest in a flurry of Affordable Care Act marketplace exits in Arizona.

Two large health insurers, UnitedHealthcare and Humana, previously told the Arizona Department of Insurance they won't sell marketplace plans in Arizona next year. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona and Health Net also have filed paperwork to drop marketplace plans in Maricopa and Pinal counties next year.

Federal health officials once highlighted Arizona and Maricopa County as examples of robust competition spurred by the health-care act.

AZCENTRAL

Blue Cross, Health Net drop Affordable Care Act marketplace plans

This year, Maricopa County residents who purchased marketplace plans could compare offering from eight insurance companies. But five of those insurance companies are poised to exit the marketplace next year in the the state's most populous county. That would leave only three health insurance companies — Aetna, Cigna and Phoenix Health Plan — selling marketplace plans next year in Maricopa County.

The Department of Insurance officials said insurance companies have until Aug. 9 to add or eliminate service areas. State and federal health insurance officials will review the filings, which will be available to the public in late August, Department of Insurance officials said.

"We will see in the next month or so who's in and who's out," said Dr. Daniel Derksen, director of the University of Arizona Center for Rural Health. "We have been very fortunate in Arizona to have robust competition."

Derksen said it's a "natural evolution" for some insurers drop out as they learn how to properly price coverage and ensure access to quality health care for consumers.

"I remain hopeful there will be enough insurers to remain and compete for folks who are eligible for marketplace coverage," Derksen said.

AZCENTRAL

Obamacare insurers dwindle as Humana, UnitedHealthcare exit Arizona

Arizona insurers exiting the marketplace say they will still provide other types of plans, such as Medicare Advantage or employer plans.

More than 203,000 Arizonans had selected a marketplace plan by Feb. 1, the end of the three-month enrollment period. But only 179,445 Arizona residents were enrolled in a plan as of March 31. That drop-off is normal because not all who sign up for plans through healthcare.gov complete the process and pay for their monthly premiums.

Far more Arizona residents get health insurance through an employer or a government-sponsored program such as Medicare, Medicaid or the Department of Veterans Affairs.

On Thursday, meanwhile, the U.S. Department of Justice sued to halt two mega health-insurance mergers: Anthem's proposed acquisition of Cigna and Aetna's takeover of Humana.

The federal government contends that those mergers would reduce competition, raise health-insurance premiums and create three large health-insurance companies.

The Justice Department said that mergers would harm consumers and employers with fewer choices and potentially higher costs in employer-provided health coverage, private Medicare plans and the federal marketplace

 

[taterpeeler]

you aught to move....

 

[tonyisme]

O is out here golfing...oh wait..its too hot 4 him. Must be in Hawaii

 

[Yagents]

AZ and Phoenix just imploded. See attached updated sheet. AZ DOI released new rate increase adjustments on the 3 players left in Phx:

AETNA - requested 18%, adjusted to 86%
Phoenix Health Plans - requested 60%, adjusted to 122%
CIGNA - 8% requested, adjusted to 19%

BCBS went down to 51% (from 64%), but they won't be selling in Phoenix next year.

All this comes with this caveat: (Coming to a theater near you)

**Insurer requests revised threshold increase due to market exit of some insurers, and changes in number and location of other insurers' offerings.

 

[FLM2]

AZ and Phoenix just imploded. See attached updated sheet. AZ DOI released new rate increase adjustments on the 3 players left in Phx:

AETNA - requested 18%, adjusted to 86%
Phoenix Health Plans - requested 60%, adjusted to 122%
CIGNA - 8% requested, adjusted to 19%

BCBS went down to 51% (from 64%), but they won't be selling in Phoenix next year.

All this comes with this caveat: (Coming to a theater near you)

**Insurer requests revised threshold increase due to market exit of some insurers, and changes in number and location of other insurers' offerings.

That's brutal, how high were Freedom Life's rates in 2016? You might have to contract with them and just offer the compliant plans