Aetna's decision to leave 11 of its 15 Affordable Care Act state exchanges placed a sense of urgency on HHS to bring in more insurers to fill the gaps, Politico reported.
Here are three thoughts on Aetna's exit from Kevin Counihan, director and marketplace CEO.
1. Mr. Counihan downplayed the news. He said exits like Hartford, Conn.-based Aetna's are part of the market's evolution. "I've been in this world for a while," Mr. Counihan said, according to the report. "This idea about somebody coming in and saying: 'Guess what? We're going to leave a few states.' … that's not the first time that I've heard that."
2. Although one in five of ACA consumers may be forced to find a new plan come fall, Mr. Counihan said the insurance market has always been dynamic. He said this complexity predates the ACA, and does not mean the exchanges are broken. "This is the nature of the industry," he told Politico.
3. With as many as one in four U.S. counties at risk of offering one insurer on ACA exchanges, Mr. Counihan said federal officials are amplifying insurer recruitment. "Our number one priority is to make sure that there is coverage access in all counties in the U.S.," he said. "In some, we're going to have one or two [insurers]. And you know what? If it's the right one or two … that's fine; that's just fine."
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