Five Insurance Carriers Submit Letters Of Intent For Arkansas Exchanges (UPDATED)

Five insurance carriers submitted letters of intent to participate in Arkansas’ forthcoming health insurance exchanges, according to the state Insurance Department.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arkansas, Celtic/Novasys, QualChoice of Arkansas, and national Blue Cross Blue Shield met a Monday, June 3 deadline to announce their plans to bid for the state’s insurance exchange, known as the Health Insurance Marketplace (HIM).  United Security Life and Health Insurance Co. submitted a letter of intent after the deadline, but insurance officials said they would extend the period to later in the month allowing United to qualify.

The exchange is an outcome of the federal health care law, which requires states to set up an online marketplace to allow consumers to shop for health insurance plans. The federal law and a new state plan known as the “private option” are expected to steer more than 500,000 Arkansans into the exchange to receive standard plans or subsidized insurance.

“I am pleased with the level of participation the industry continues to show,” said Arkansas Insurance Commissioner Jay Bradford. “It has always been my desire, and in the best interest of the Arkansas consumer, to have as much competition and choice as possible on the Health Insurance Marketplace.”

Along with their intent to participate, these companies submitted their planned service areas for 2014 which will be reviewed for adequacy.  The Arkansas Healthcare Independence Act of 2013 requires that consumers in each of Arkansas’ 75 counties have a choice among at least two health insurance issuers.

Exchange Planning Director Cynthia Crone said, “We are encouraged with this response to the new Marketplace and anticipate the competition will keep premium prices low for all Arkansans.”

Open enrollment for the HIM begins October 1, 2013, and continues until March 31, 2014.

Rep. John Burris (R-Harrison), the House chairman of the Public Health committee and a main architect of the state’s private option plan, said he’s “very satisfied” in the number of participants.

“Our major goal for controlling costs was increasing carrier competition. We’ve doubled our number in year one. That’s a good start,” Burris said.

He also said that he expects other carriers may eventually enter the Arkansas market.

“Coventry Healthcare was just bought out by Aetna,” Burris said. “And United Healthcare has always said that it may wait a year before participating.”