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2 More Health Insurers Drop Arizona Customers

Two major health insurance companies, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona and Health Net, will drop Affordable Care Act plans next year in Maricopa and Pinal counties, forcing tens of thousands of consumers to switch plans next year.

Two major health insurance companies, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona and Health Net, will drop Affordable Care Act plans next year in Maricopa and Pinal counties, forcing tens of thousands of consumers to switch plans next year.

 

Stung by financial losses on marketplace plans in 2014 and 2015, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona has filed documents with the Arizona Department of Insurance to discontinue such plans in Maricopa and Pinal counties. About 44,000 Blue Cross Blue Shield customers will need to find new sources of health coverage for 2017.

 

Similarly, state filings show Health Net will drop Affordable Care Act plans in Maricopa and Pinal counties next year, eliminating coverage for about 14,000 current Health Net customers. It intends to sell only mid-level silver and gold marketplace plans in Pima County next year, according to the insurer's filings.

 

The moves to scale back coverage in Arizona's most populous region comes after two other large health insurers, UnitedHealthcare and Humana, decided to exit the state's marketplace altogether in 2017.

 

What emerges is an Affordable Care Act marketplace with far fewer options for consumers in 2017.

Caroline Cournoyer is GOVERNING's senior web editor.
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