HEALTHCARE/OBAMACARE(ACA)/PHARMA: “Anthem Inc said it may exit more individual Obamacare markets as the future of the national healthcare law and the government subsidies that make insurance affordable for millions of Americans remain up in the air.
Republican lawmakers are in the midst of a freewheeling debate to craft a bill that would end Obamacare, but the effort to roll back Democratic President Barack Obama’s signature healthcare law faces significant hurdles.
The No. 2 U.S. health insurer and other healthcare companies have pressed lawmakers and government officials to continue funding the Obamacare program during a transition period and pay billions of dollars in medical care subsidies. U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened to cut off these payments.
Anthem, which sells Blue Cross Blue Shield plans in 14 states, has mostly pulled out of three states, including Indiana, where it had planned to sell 2018 plans in the individual market.
It has until Sept. 27 to pull out of the government-run marketplace for individual insurance.
The insurer has more than a million customers in Obamacare individual plans.
In many states, Anthem has asked for rate increases in 2018 of more than 20 percent to cover the high medical costs of members.”
-Caroline Hunter, “Anthem says may exit more individual markets over Obamacare funding,” Reuters, July 26, 2017 07:07am