Loebsack: Allow Iowans to use D.C.’s ACA insurance option

June 02--U.S. Rep. Dave Loebsack, D-Iowa, wants to give Iowans without any insurance options the chance to buy the same coverage offered to members of Congress and their staffs.

On Friday, he introduced legislation that would allow Americans living in a county with no health insurance choice on the federal exchange access to coverage through the DC Health Exchange -- DC Healthlink.

"My legislation is not meant to be a permanent fix, but we need to give the folks in Iowa who could lose their insurance an option aside from entering into the state's high-risk pool, which is often expensive and provides poor coverage," Loebsack said in a news release. "Both Washington and Des Moines need to come together and provide a way forward that will ensure stability for Iowans who rely on the exchange to provide their health care coverage."

In April, both Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield and Aetna announced they would stop selling individual health insurance plans on and off the Affordable Care Act exchange in Iowa in 2018, affecting nearly 58,000 people. Both insurers cited high costs and the uncertainty of the ACA's future.

Then in May, Minnesota-based Medica -- which sells plans in a majority of Iowa counties -- hinted it may follow Wellmark and Aetna's lead, but has not made an official or final decision yet.

The insurer, which has about 14,000 Iowa members, has until mid-June to decide. If Medica were to pull out, that would leave Gundersen Health Plan, which sells plans in only five Iowa counties.

Under the Healthcare Options for All Act, qualified individuals who enroll in the DC Health Exchange would be eligible for any premium tax credit or reduced cost-sharing that they would otherwise be eligible for if they were enrolling in health insurance coverage in the individual market through the Iowa exchange, Loebsack's office said. According to the DC Healthlink website, 10 medical and dental insurers sell plan on the exchange, including UnitedHealthcare and Kaiser Permanente.

"My No. 1 goal throughout the debate over health care insurance has been to ensure Iowans have access to quality, affordable coverage," Loebsack said. "If the reports of all insurers pulling out of Iowa's exchange do become reality, then it is imperative for those Iowans to have access to health care coverage."

Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., introduced the same legislation in the Senate.

l Comments: (319) 398-8331; chelsea.keenan@thegazette.com

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