Atlanta-based Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Georgia said it will soon be the only insurer participating in the state's Affordable Care Act exchange, WABE reports.
Following Hartford, Conn.-based Aetna's ACA pullback earlier this month, 96 Georgia counties will only have BCBSGA plans to chose from next year. Minnetonka, Minn.-based UnitedHealthcare and Bloomfield, Conn.-based Cigna are exiting the market, and Louisville, Ky.-based Humana is limiting its presence to a few counties. All 159 counties had at least two ACA participating insurers this year.
Cindy Zeldin, executive director of consumer advocacy group Georgians for a Healthy Future, told WABE she does not think the marketplace changes are permanent, and urban areas like Atlanta will still see strong competition. However, rural areas of the state will not see as many options.
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