Health insurer BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee's exit from the state's individual market in three of its most populous regions will leave thousands searching for health plans this open enrollment.
Here are three takeaways about the departure.
1. Regions affected by the pullback include Nashville, Memphis and Knoxville. Thirty counties and 100,000 people with individual on and off exchange plans will be affected.
2. The Chattanooga, Tenn.-based insurer will no longer pay insurance broker commissions for new enrollees next year, The Tennessean reports. The change is effective statewide.
3. BCBS of Tennessee may return to the 2018 marketplace in departed areas. This is dependent on several factors, including if the individual marketplace can draw younger and healthier adults, according to the report.
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