The following insurers made headlines this week. They are listed below, beginning with the most recent.
1. Study: Nearly half of HealthCare.gov plans don't cover out-of-network costs
A study from Mountain View, Calif.-based HealthPocket showed 47 percent of Affordable Care Act plans on HealthCare.gov lack out-of-network coverage.
2. BCBS of Texas drops individual PPO plans
Richardson-based Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas is dropping individual PPO plans and moving to HMO plans, according to News Channel 10.
3. Iowa Wellmark to sell policies on health exchange
Iowa's largest health insurer, Wellmark Blue Cross & Blue Shield, will sell policies on the ACA's online health insurance marketplace in 2017, according to The Des Moines Register.
4. Horizon BCBS defends new health plan as NJ lawmakers object
Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey — the state's largest insurer — is defending its new Omnia Health Alliance while lawmakers probe criteria it used to select which providers can participate in the network, according to a Philly.com report.
5. Lesbian, gay and bisexual adults gain access to insurance through ACA
Although a significant number of lesbian, gay and bisexual adults have gained health insurance since the implementation of the ACA and the expansion of Medicaid in 31 states and insurance marketplaces, gaps in care still exist, according to a study published in Health Affairs.
6. A deeper dive into who is, isn't buying insurance from the exchanges
As the third open enrollment period for the health insurance marketplaces under the ACA begins Nov. 1, the Commonwealth Fund's ACA Tracking Survey identified possible explanations for why people remain uninsured.
7. Risk corridor program lacks $2.5B
CMS reported insurers will receive $362 million in risk corridor payments for 2014, or 12.6 percent of the $2.87 billion requested.
8. Highmark lowers premiums for 2016 Medicare Advantage plans
In an effort to keep members as rival UPMC grows its insurance business, Pittsburgh-based Highmark is lowering premiums for seven of its nine Medicare Advantage plans for 2016, according to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.
9. Assurant completes sale of business lines to National General Holdings Corp.
Milwaukee-based Assurant Health closed on the sale of specific business lines and assets from its health insurance business to National General Holdings Corp., effective immediately.