BRIEF: Centene steps in to sell health insurance plans in western Missouri

June 30--Every county in Missouri will have at least one health insurance carrier selling plans to individuals on the exchange in 2018 -- at least for now.

Centene announced Friday that it will sell plans in 40 Missouri counties, including the 25 western Missouri counties that were at risk of having no insurance carrier after Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas City said it would not offer plans there in 2018.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas City was the only remaining exchange insurer in those 25 counties.

It said it was pulling out because of unsustainable losses on the exchange, or HealthCare.gov, a market that was set up by former President Barack Obama's landmark health care bill. HealthCare.gov allows individuals to purchase coverage on their own if they don't have access to coverage through an employer.

Centene announced earlier this month that it planned to enter new exchange markets in 2018, including in Missouri, Kansas and Nevada.

St. Louis area residents will see more competition on the exchange as the area will now have three carriers to choose from.

If Anthem continues to offer plans in 2018, consumers here will be able to compare plans offered by Anthem, Cigna and Centene.

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