UnitedHealthcare announced that it would withdraw from Mississippi’s federal health exchange for individual plans. The exit takes effect January 1, next year.
Previously, UnitedHealthcare also declared its exit from the federal health exchanges of states such as Arkansas, Georgia, and Michigan. CEO Stephen Hemsley confirmed that in 2017 the company will only remain in a “handful of states.”
The insurer will notify its policyholders 180 in advance before exiting the market, allowing the consumers to find coverage from other carriers. About 18,206 policyholders will be affected by UnitedHealthcare’s exit.
UnitedHealthcare encouraged its customers affected by their exit to visit healthcare.gov to look for other health plans on the federal marketplace. The same resource could also help individuals determine if they or their family members qualify for Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program.
With the insurer’s exit, only two carriers remain on Mississippi’s subsidized health individual insurance marketplace: Ambetter from Magnoila and Humana. Both insurers will continue to offer both individual and family health insurance plans to Mississippi residents in 2017.
MSNewsNow.com reported that insurer Humana will restrict its participation in the individual federal marketplace next year by withdrawing from 16 counties across Mississippi. The insurer, however, said that it would continue to offer plans in 24 other counties.
