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Last week, our Washington State “Five Things We’re Watching” email newsletter contained the headline “Molina rejected by Exchange.”
This headline is inaccurate and should have stated that Molina’s initial application was disapproved by the OIC.
We regret the error and have extended our apology to the Exchange. We have been in contact with the OIC to discuss the rate filing process further.
This is part 2 of a two part interview with the president of Regence Insurance Holding Corporation, Jared Short. You can find the first part of the interview here.
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DJ: Tell me about why Cambia decided to introduce the Bridgespan brand to the marketplace where Regence has been such a successful brand for so long? (more…)
Today, May 15th, the Washington Health Benefit Exchange (HBE) Board voted to move forward in the SHOP (small business) market with only one health insurance carrier, Kaiser Permanente NW.
In February, seven carriers submitted LOI’s for the SHOP Exchange market.
Later, only 3 carriers submitted rates to the OIC. Both Regence and CHPW later withdrew their plans from the SHOP Exchange leaving only Kaiser Permanente NW with a complete network in Clark and Cowlitz counties and partially covering Lewis, Skamania and Wahkiakum counties.
The HBE staff have learned from carriers and stakeholders that there are concerns about operationalizing the necessary changes within the timeframe for carriers, that the value for SHOP is still unclear for employers, and there may be additional risk for the carriers that carriers are unwilling to assume.
By moving forward with Kaiser Permanante, HBE staff will be able to enhance the value proposition for carriers and small employers, including making changes for system changes which could allow for defined contributions from employers for 2015.
SHOP enrollment targets for 2014 year-end are 17,000. There are 11 carriers participating in the small business market outside of the Exchange. The individual markets on and off the Exchange appear to be robust with 9 and 11 carriers submitting rates to the OIC, respectively.
Jared Short is the President of Regence Insurance Holding Corporation. This post is part 1 of a 2 part interview. The second part will be posted Friday.
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DJ: Jared, thanks for making time to talk with us about exchanges in Oregon and Washington.
My pleasure. Thanks for giving me the opportunity, DJ.
DJ: First, how does Regence view the exchange marketplace compared to the non-exchange marketplace for fully insured products? Are there different strategic approaches or considerations between the two? (more…)
Health insurance exchanges were created to make it easier and more affordable to buy health insurance. That may actually happen. (more…)
The Washington Health Benefit Exchange Board of Directors held a special meeting yesterday where staff briefed them on the status of the SHOP (small business) marketplace.
Only one carrier, offering coverage in four counties, is participating in the Exchange’s SHOP marketplace rendering the network inadequate statewide. That plan is Kaiser and is only in Southwest Washington. (more…)
The following press release was issued Tuesday by Moda Health. This release is related to the Alaska market, but the changes apply to all ODS service areas.
Anchorage, AK: May 7, 2013 – Jason’ Gootee’s entire staff decided this week to go to work for a brand new company. But not a single one of his employees changed jobs. In a bold move signaling his broad embrace of healthcare transformation and heightened consumer expectations, the manager of health benefits pioneer ODS Alaska announced Monday that his company has changed its name to Moda Health.
Founded in Oregon in 1955, ODS has quietly built a diverse, dynamic portfolio of health insurance and business products and services. Now with annual revenues of almost $2 billion, it is one of the largest privately-held companies in the Pacific Northwest. (more…)
Some of the country’s largest health insurers are beginning to reveal their plans for operating in the state and federal exchange markets. Cigna plans to participate in five state exchanges, four of which will be operated by the federal government. Meanwhile, United Healthcare has said they will participate in somewhere between 10 and 25 states. Humana plans to participate in 14 states.
We’re seeing a testing of the waters with modest participation from the nation’s largest carriers. Cigna’s David Cordani says “We do not believe this is going to be a massive either top-line or bottom-line driver for the corporation. We think this is just a step forward for us.” (more…)
From The Olympian Business Blog:
Union delivers strike notice to Providence St. Peter Hospital
By Rolf Boone
The Business Blog
Feb. 28, 2013The union that represents several hundred workers at Providence St. Peter Hospital put the hospital on notice Thursday afternoon, telling the hospital the union is set to go on strike in 10 days if the two sides can’t come to agreement about a new health care plan for hospital employees.
Topher Spiro: Beware of Hysteria Over New Health-Insurance Rates
Tuesday, May 7th, 2013 by Erin ThurstonBloomberg published the following op-ed from Topher Spiro, vice president for health policy at the Center for American Progress:
Tags: Affordable Care Act, California, Center for American Progress, Covered California, Health Insurance Premiums, Maryland, Topher Spiro
Posted in Commentary, Exchange, Insurance Plans |