Approximately 3,346 individuals could be affected in Klickitat and Grays Harbor counties, according to March 2017 data of Washington’s individual market participants.
Seattle-based Community Health Plan of Washington and Seattle-based Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of Washington Options revealed earlier this year they would not sell health plans on the state’s ACA exchange for 2018.
Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler said, “I will be reaching out to our health insurers this week to strongly encourage them to reconsider their participation in the two counties that have no options for 2018.”
If an insurer does not fill the gap, individuals will have the option of gaining coverage though Washington’s high-risk insurance pool. However, since the pool is not a qualified exchange insurer under the ACA, individuals would not be eligible for subsidies.
More articles on payer issues:
All Children’s Hospital, UnitedHealthcare resolve contract dispute
CVS, Cigna launch consumer health program
Federal court denies UnitedHealth’s $58B Tricare protest, Molina names president of New Mexico branch & more — 15 payer key notes
