OPINION: KU Health strikes deal with Obamacare insurer; other providers still not covered
The health system, home to the largest hospital in
Adding KU to the Ambetter network two weeks into the open enrollment period means thousands of patients covered under the Affordable Care Act now have an option other than paying out of pocket or finding other doctors.
"We understand this situation has been challenging for patients and their care teams,"
"We are committed to the care and well-being of our patients and look forward to being able to continue to serve them through our partnership."
Blue KC's Obamacare exit affects only
The plans available now have narrower networks than Blue KC's, even with the addition of
Eiterich, from
"I just feel like I shouldn't have to change doctors who know me and know my case," Eiterich said. "They've been my doctors forever."
Eiterich said her doctors told her they're still in negotiations with Ambetter about entering their network she's "just holding out to see what happens."
"We want to be in those networks and we're working to be in those networks," Bacon said. "We think that it's better for patient care and it's better for patient choice for all of us to participate in that. So we're working towards that as we speak."
The open enrollment period for Obamacare insurance began
"I'd hope they could hang tight because we think we're close to becoming participants in that network," Bacon said.
Hanson also said the department has been fielding about 10 to 15 calls a day about ACA enrollment.
"Not all are coming from the
Blue KC's ACA customers are now being auto-enrolled into other plans for 2018. Eiterich got an email from Ambetter welcoming her to that company's plan and urging her to "Make your premium payment by
Hanson said the insurance department wants consumers to know the auto-enrollments are not final until they pay their first premium. Until then, they're free to shop around during open enrollment.
But Eiterich, a substitute teacher and small-business owner, said there are no good options for her in the ACA market right now. She and her husband, a software consultant, are looking for other solutions, like finding an employer that offers insurance.
"I'm not going to enroll in a plan that I know doesn't cover my doctors," Eiterich said. "So I've just been looking around for a full-time job and trying to figure out what I'm going to do."
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