Medica says it will sell ACA-compliant health plans statewide in Nebraska next year

[Omaha Steve]

Source: Omaha World Herald

By Steve Jordon

Medica Health plans to sell individual insurance statewide in Nebraska next year under the Affordable Care Act, meaning that nearly 100,000 Nebraskans could be covered by the small nonprofit health insurance company from suburban Minneapolis.

Medica, based in Minnetonka, said in a brief announcement Thursday that it filed its plans for statewide insurance for 2018 with the Nebraska Department of Insurance.

“We have said all along that we are committed to the marketplaces where we currently provide coverage, and will continue to serve those communities whenever possible,” said Geoff Bartsh, vice president, in the announcement.

Medica most likely would be the only insurance company offering individual policies in Nebraska that comply with the ACA’s rules requiring maternity, routine checkups, hospital and a wide range of other coverages.

FULL story at link below.

Read more: http://www.omaha.com/livewellnebraska/medica-says-it-will-sell-aca-compliant-health-plans-statewide/article_17b41936-5227-11e7-ac76-ef0fd7397ae5.html

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Nebraska never expanded Medicaid.

[moose65]

1. Could this be a trend?

If the huge, for-profit insurance companies bail, might that open the market for smaller non-profit insurance companies? I would see this as a positive development. Anything that moves us away from the for-profit model is a winner in my book!

[DK504]

2. A human being in the insurance company?

[tapper]

3. Moved into Kansas ACA last year

Which was as well, because Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas only had HMOs with the BCBS-KS network only at the silver level this year. (The Kansas City metro region, which covers the city and suburbs in both Kansas as Missouri, is less than 35 miles away). I went with Medica, which has been okay so far on doctor's appointments and medications (most of my generics are under $1.00).

Kansas also never expanded for Medicaid, either (the legislature tried, but our disgusting governor vetoed the bill, and there weren't enough votes to override.)