Anthem leaving program

Anthem’s leaving the Affordable Care Act’s health insurance exchange in Ohio next year would leave more than 10,000 people in 18 counties — including Holmes — without a plan.

In the rest of the state, 56,000 people already signed up with Anthem would have to find another plan.

“I think this will lead to increased uncompensated care,” said Steve Wagner, executive director of the Universal Health Care Action Network of Ohio, a nonprofit that promotes accessible and affordable health care. “Certainly people will go without care, or defer it until it’s so critical they end up in the emergency department.”

Anthem operates Blue Cross in Ohio. In a statement, Anthem spokesman Jeff Blunt said, “This was a difficult decision that was only made after thoughtful consideration and ongoing discussions with Ohio’s state and regulatory leaders.

“As the marketplace continues to evolve and adjust to changing regulatory requirements and marketplace conditions, we will re-evaluate whether a more robust presence in the exchange is appropriate in the future.”

Monday was the deadline for insurance companies in Ohio to propose their 2018 rates under the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare.

For the past few years, state insurance officials have seen a weakening in the federal insurance marketplace as a number of companies have withdrawn from the exchange, said Chris Brock, assistant director of the Ohio Department of Insurance.

Aetna and UnitedHealthCare also have pulled out. “I would say that we are not surprised,” Brock said of Anthem’s decision.

State insurance officials say they are looking for options for the 10,500 Ohioans in counties left without a single exchange plan.

Based on preliminary filing submissions to the Ohio Department of Insurance, Anthem’s pulling out would leave these counties without insurance plans: Coshocton, Crawford, Guernsey, Hancock, Harrison, Hocking, Holmes, Jackson, Knox, Lawrence, Morgan, Muskingum, Noble, Paulding, Perry, Van Wert, Vinton and Wyandot.

Anthem will continue to cover about 3.4 million people across other plans.

In Wayne County, residents will have other options. People can choose from plans offered through CareSource and Aultcare, according to the Ohio Department of Insurance. In Ashland County, consumers will be able to choose from 17 plans offered between CareSource and MedMutual, according to county navigator Julie Leon. 

Reaction to Anthem’s announcement on Tuesday was swift.

U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, said in a statement that Anthem’s decision affects the ability to get cancer treatments, life-saving medicine and even taking children to see a doctor.

“Instead of using working families as bargaining chips and driving up prices across the market, we need to work together to lower costs and make health care work better for everyone,” Brown said.

In a statement, the left-leaning American Bridge Political Action Committee blamed President Donald Trump for sabotaging Affordable Care Act marketplaces “and the people of Ohio are going to pay the price.”

“Trump’s efforts to deliberately undermine the insurance markets are hurting people right now, and his reckless behavior is unconscionable,” American Bridge spokesperson Harrell Kirstein said. “Ohioans deserve far better.”

On the other side, U.S. Rep. Pat Tiberi, R-Genoa Township, said in a statement: “This is just more evidence that conditions under Obamacare are just going to get worse. It is collapsing under its own weight. For years, Ohioans have faced higher premiums and fewer choices because of this fundamentally broken law.”

U.S. Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, said in a statement, “For the past few years, we’ve seen premiums and deductibles skyrocket because of the Obamacare law, as we’ve seen a declining number of viable health care choices for families and small businesses. Without true competition and choice in the market, we will never be able to lower health care costs for families and small businesses. This is one more reason why the status quo on health care is unsustainable.”

On the larger issue of repeal of the Affordable Care Act, “This is hard stuff,” Portman said during a press call.

“Whatever we do to touch the health care system, there are pros and cons,” he said. “It’s complicated, and yet my feeling is Congress has a responsibility here.”

GateHouse Ohio Media reporters Jessica Wehrman and Kristi Schweitzer contributed to this report.

CREDIT: MARK FERENCHIK ; MICHAEL HUSON GATEHOUSE OHIO MEDIA