Iowans may not have access to health insurance in 2018. Why? Medica is the last major health insurer in the state and when they drop out Obamacare is history.
Here is a statement from Medica:
Without swift action by the state or Congress to provide stability to Iowa’s individual insurance market, Medica will not be able to serve the citizens of Iowa in the manner and breadth that we do today. We are examining the potential of limited offerings, but our ability to stay in the Iowa insurance market in any capacity is in question at this point."
This follows Aetna and Wellmark Blue Cross & Blue Shield dropping from the individual health insurance market in Iowa. Iowans who receive insurance from an employer or have Medicare or Medicaid will not be affected. That still leaves 70,000 people in Iowa who buy their own coverage and could be left out in the cold.
“Unless a replacement carrier is found, the change means moderate-income Iowans in most counties would not be able to use Affordable Care Act subsidies to help pay premiums for private insurance. It also means many better-off Iowans who pay their entire premiums without government assistance would lose their individual insurance policies next year.”
Obamacare is History in Iowa
If an Iowan purchased an individual policy from Wellmark before January 1, 2014, they will be covered. This is because they aren't subject to the regulations of Obamacare. Wellmark has 77,00 customers who are in this situation.
Iowa Insurance Commissioner Doug Ommen has spoken out, staring that his office is very restricted as a result of the Obamacare regulations. Ommen said, “Without Congressional action, we’re very limited in what we can do. This is a federally created situation, and we need a federally created solution.”
It is very important to for Congress to get Obamacare repealed and replaced. It is currently imploding across the country. Congress needs to act now.
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