DAYTON, Ohio -- In the face of significant uncertainty surrounding the future direction of U.S. health care policy, Premier Health Plan will join several other health insurers in exiting the federal health insurance exchange in Ohio by discontinuing its Premier HealthOne On-Exchange plan at the end of 2017.
The decision in no way affects Premier Health Plan’s off-exchange, Medicare Advantage or commercial group plans.
“The uncertainty in Washington, D.C., around the future of the Affordable Care Act – through which the federal exchange was created – and the associated volatility in the marketplace have led us to conclude that we cannot effectively plan and price affordable health insurance to sell on the exchange,” said Renee George, president of Premier Health Plan.
“As a Dayton-based, physician-led health plan that believes strongly in value-based care, we’re disappointed that we must discontinue our participation in the exchange in 2018,” George said. “However, we will continue to offer a range of other insurance plans, including to individuals off of the exchange.”
During the open-enrollment period this fall, members enrolled in this plan will have the option to choose alternative coverage for 2018, including on-exchange and off-exchange plans. Premier Health’s off-exchange plan (Premier HealthOne Off-Exchange) will be one option they can consider.
Premier Health Plan’s exit from the exchange affects only a small percentage of its membership in a nine-county area.
No action is required by Premier HealthOne On-Exchange members now. Affected members will receive a written notice with additional details prior to the open enrollment period for 2018, which runs from Nov. 1, 2017, to Dec. 15, 2017.
