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This has been a momentous week for health care in California.
The Covered California exchange announced that its premiums will likely rise by an average of 12.5 percent statewide next year.
On top of that, the exchange may add an average 12.4 percent surcharge to silver-level plans if President Donald Trump stops funding critical subsidies that help reduce some consumers’ out-of-pocket expenses — or if uncertainty over their fate persists.
While Covered California announced that its 11 insurers will continue to participate next year, Anthem Blue Cross, historically one of the biggest players on the exchange, will leave 16 of the 19 regions it currently serves. Its exit from the individual market in California will force roughly 153,000 Covered California members and 144,000 policyholders outside of the exchange to find new plans next year.
Listen to California Healthline senior correspondent Emily Bazar’s discussion of these developments on Capital Public Radio, above. Bazar also appeared on KCRW this week.