A decision by Marietta, Ga.-based WellStar Health System and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Georgia to collaborate on a federal exchange health plan will allow patients to enroll in coverage through Jan. 31, West Georgia Neighbor reports.
Traditional federal exchange enrollment timelines required patients to enroll in an exchange health plan by Dec. 15, 2016, for coverage beginning Jan. 1. The new WellStar-BCBS option will allow patients to enroll or make changes to their coverage through HealthCare.gov until the end of this month for coverage effective after that date.
The WellStar-BCBS agreement was instated Jan. 1, with all 11 WellStar hospitals and WellStar Medical Group providers participating in the joint exchange product.
"This news gives patients the ability to keep their WellStar physicians and providers," Barbara Corey, senior vice president of managed care for WellStar, said in a statement to West Georgia Neighbor. "As a not-for-profit, WellStar is focused on improving the health of our patients and community."