Minuteman Health customers get reprieve to make health insurance call

New Hampshire Union Leader

Nov. 24--Minuteman Health customers get reprieve to make health insurance call

By KEVIN LANDRIGAN

New Hampshire Union Leader

November 23. 2017 8:54PM

* Sticker shock hits NH health insurance buyers

CONCORD -- Members who have health care insurance with Minuteman Health have just been given three more months to select a new plan.

Insurance Commissioner Roger Sevigny announced the new deadline of March 1 for the 20,000 who were insured by the Massachusetts-based health plan that has withdrawn from the market starting this Jan. 1.

Sevigny explained that the circumstances of Minuteman's exodus qualify the members for an extended open enrollment.

Everyone else who buys health insurance through the federal exchange under the Affordable Care Act must make up their minds by Dec. 15.

Late last spring, Minuteman executives announced they were pulling out and hoped to reorganize as a private, for-profit commercial insurer and return to the New Hampshire market in future years.

"Yesterday, the federal government announced that Minuteman members have been granted more time to find a new plan," Sevigny said in a statement. "Minuteman members who have not applied for a new plan through HealthCare.gov by Dec. 15 should indicate on the website that they are selecting a plan through special enrollment."

These members have to choose their insurer between Anthem, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care and Ambetter.

This is the scheduled date of coverage for these individuals:

--Members who select a plan between Jan. 1 and Jan. 31 will be eligible for coverage beginning Feb. 1.

--Members who select a plan between Feb. 1 and Feb. 28 will be eligible for coverage March 1.

--Members who select a plan March 1, the last day of the special enrollment period for Minuteman Health policyholders, will be eligible for coverage beginning April 1.

Sevigny noted that all Minuteman customers had received misleading information from Anthem that gave some customers the idea that they had to pick Anthem as their replacement insurer.

"This letter could be confusing. All members have the opportunity to choose a new plan for 2018," Sevigny said. "The assignment to Anthem will only take place if a member does not choose his or her own plan."

Sevigny said it's also important for these members to keep in mind that if they are auto-assigned into Anthem because they didn't pick a plan, they can still change that coverage through special enrollment by March 1.

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