Jacksonville-based Florida Blue intends to offer individual policies on the state's ACA exchange in all 67 counties next year, according to The News-Press.
David Pizzo, Florida Blue market president for the company's west region, told The News-Press the payer is "pretty confident that we can continue to serve the people of Florida and be a competitive force with whoever is in the marketplace. We only sell health insurance in Florida and this is our home, so we don't have the luxury of pulling out or trying to target profitable counties. We're in it for good."
Florida Blue, which is the state's largest payer, did not comment on any proposed premium increases for 2018 coverage. While it will file rate requests assuming the ACA's cost-sharing reductions — which help payers offer lower premiums — will remain intact, Florida Blue estimates premiums will rise 20 percent for individual policyholders without the CSRs.