Anthem withdraws from ACA marketplace, leaving Hancock, Van Wert counties without provider

June 06--LIMA -- More than 10,000 Ohio residents in 18 counties, including Hancock and Van Wert, will no longer have access to health insurance plans through the Affordable Care Act exchange as of the end of this year, with Anthem pulling out of the ACA marketplace.

In a statement released Tuesday, Anthem cited the smaller market and planning and pricing issues as the reasons for its decision to pull out of the marketplace.

"A stable insurance market is dependent on products that create value for consumers through the broad spreading of risk and a known set of conditions upon which rates can be developed," the statement read. "Today, planning and pricing for ACA-compliant health plans has become increasingly difficult due to the shrinking individual market as well as continual changes in federal operations, rules and guidance."

While Auglaize, Logan and Mercer Counties only had plans from Anthem offered this year, the Ohio Department of Insurance did not include them in the list of counties with no insurer in 2018.

"As companies are making their filings for 2018, they may have changed their coverage areas, which is why some counties may have different options heading into next year," ODI Public Information Officer Robert Denhard said.

U.S. Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, issued a statement shortly after Anthem's announcement, citing this development as further proof that the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, is not viable.

"Without true competition and choice in the market, we will never be able to lower health care costs for families and small businesses," he said. "This is one more reason why the status quo on health care is unsustainable. The Affordable Care Act has failed to meet the promises that were made to Ohio families. We can and must do better than Obamacare, but we should do it in a way that protects the most vulnerable in our society."

Reach Craig Kelly at 567-242-0390 or on Twitter @Lima_CKelly.

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