Fear, Confusion Reigns As Open Enrollment Nears, But Officials Say Calif. Exchange Is ‘Rock Solid’
Rates in 2018 are expected to jump 12.3 percent statewide -- in comparison with other states which will see jumps of more than 30 percent.
East Bay Times:
Covered California Addresses 2018 Open Enrollment Confusion
But for many of the 1.4 million Californians now enrolled in Obamacare plans, the prospects of obtaining affordable health care aren’t as dire. That’s because Covered California — the state’s health care exchange created under the Affordable Care Act — months ago began putting together backup plans.Covered California’s executive director, Peter Lee, goes as far as saying that the insurance marketplace for 2018 is “rock solid.”Health care experts say a chief reason behind the exchange’s relative success is that it has a pool of healthier enrollees compared with the 42 states that depend on the federal Obamacare marketplace. (Seipel, 10/30)
Ventura County Star:
Anthem's Decision To Pull Plans Fuels Angst In Conejo
Anthem announced earlier this year that the financial instability in the market for plans offered through the Affordable Care Act was causing it to yank its plans in Ventura County and much of California beginning Jan. 1, 2018. It cited reasons including the uncertain future of the cost-sharing subsidies to insurers that have since been cut by President Donald Trump. The decision means 9,630 Ventura County residents covered in Anthem plans through the Covered California exchange will have to switch to Blue Shield or Kaiser Permanente. People not covered by their employers and insured by Anthem in individual and family plans outside of Covered California will have to find new insurers, too. (Kisken, 10/28)