Indiana’s elected officials are reacting to news that News that Anthem and MdWise are exiting the Obamacare exchange.
Eric Holcomb – Indiana Governor
“We’ve been informed that Anthem and MDwise plan to leave the Obamacare marketplace in Indiana. Hoosiers served by these providers under the federal marketplace will keep their coverage through the end of the year, and this action does not apply to those who are insured through their employers or are members of HIP 2.0, Medicaid or Medicare. “We’ll know the full extent of the issues with the Obamacare marketplace tomorrow when all provider rates are published, but this is more evidence that the current federal system isn’t working. Indiana is one of many states where Obamacare is failing to provide citizens options to affordable, quality healthcare. “This underscores the need for reform, and Indiana is poised to lead the way if given the flexibility and time to tailor the best solutions.”
Joe Donnelly – United States Senator
“Today’s decision is especially disappointing because tens of thousands of Hoosiers are losing their coverage, an outcome forced by this Administration’s deliberate strategy to create chaos and undermine the health care coverage of Hoosiers. We should all be able to agree that we want to protect access to affordable health care, and it is now more important than ever that the Senate work together in a bipartisan way to ensure Hoosiers have access to affordable quality coverage.”
In March, President Trump said “The best thing we can do, politically speaking, is let Obamacare explode.” There is mounting evidence that actions taken by the Trump administration, by themselves, are creating instability in the insurance markets, threatening significant cost increases for consumers in 2018 and prompting insurers to pull out of states.
Today’s announcement from Anthem adds to that evidence, as Anthem noted specifically that the individual market is “volatile” because of “uncertainty in federal operations, rules and guidance, including cost sharing subsidies.” Anthem wrote in a recent letter to Donnelly that because of uncertainty, “Anthem will have no choice but to reevaluate our approach to filing our 2018 rates. Such adjustments could include reducing service area participation, requesting additional rate increases, eliminating certain product offerings, and/or exiting certain individual ACA-compliant markets altogether.”
Similarly, MDWise President and CEO James Parker wrote to Donnelly in May, citing the market uncertainty as a key part of their rate and coverage decision making, noting “…the loss of CSR funding would likely trigger significant losses for insurers like MDWise. MDWise agreed to offer coverage to our members with the expectation that lower premiums would be offset by the funding made possible through the cost sharing reduction payments. Absent these payments, MDWise will be forced to either increase premiums significantly or withdraw from the Marketplace Exchange.
Jackie Walorski – CD 2
“This is the latest sign of Obamacare’s failure to ensure Hoosiers have access to quality, affordable health care. Now even more Hoosiers, already facing higher costs and fewer options, will be forced to look for new plans and new doctors. Obamacare is collapsing, and I am committed to replacing it with a patient-centered system that lowers costs, increases choices, and provides real protections.”
Todd Rokita – CD 4
Next year more than 2,700 Hoosiers in my congressional district and 29,000 in the state of Indiana are going to lose their healthcare plan because of Obamacare. In 11 of the 16 counties in our district, there will be only one insurer to choose from. This means Obamacare is taking away coverage and Hoosiers’ right to choose their provider. Ever since I was elected into Congress, I have been fighting to repeal and replace Obamacare because it is the most insidious piece of legislation to pass through these halls. I am tired of seeing the damage it is causing Hoosiers. Passing the American Health Care Act (AHCA) was a huge step forward in eliminating this terrible law. The inclusion of a continuous coverage requirement and the patient and state stability fund in the AHCA would lead to more insurance companies electing to stay in states. I strongly urge the Senate to acknowledge the damage Obamacare continues to cause as they debate this important issue this week.”
Luke Messer – CD 6
“Today’s announcements confirm what most Hoosiers already knew: Obamacare is broken beyond repair. Now, tens of thousands of Hoosiers will be left with few options on the exchange, and some counties may be left with no options at all,” Messer said. “Despite the rhetoric of Obamacare’s supporters, we must act now to repeal this failed law and rescue Indiana’s consumers. I urge my colleagues in the Senate to quickly send legislation back to the House so that we can finally provide relief.”
Andre Carson – CD 7
“With so many families reliant on the health care exchange across our state, I am extremely disappointed in the decision by several insurers to pull out of Indiana’s Exchange. This decision means Hoosiers now have fewer options to choose from on the health Exchange. Despite my disappointment, I am not surprised by today’s announcement. Insurers, like any other business, need to know what the market will look like when determining how best to provide viable, valuable, and marketable insurance. Unfortunately, the potential passage of the American Health Care Act, as well as the Trump Administration’s repeated actions to undermine the marketplace, has created more uncertainty and instability. I urge the Administration and Republicans in Congress to stop undermining the markets, holding Hoosiers’ health care hostage. Instead, they should be working to improve, not repeal, the Affordable Care Act. Since the ACA’s passage in 2010, Indiana’s uninsured rate has fallen by 35 percent, translating into 339,000 Hoosiers gaining coverage. Passage of the American Health Act would kick 23 million Americans off coverage, allow discrimination against Americans with pre-existing conditions, eliminate coverage for essential benefits in many parts of the county, and further destabilize the insurance market. Unfortunately, today’s announcement demonstrates that thousands of Hoosiers are already being hurt by the actions of Republicans in Congress and the Administration.”
Dr. Larry Bucshon – CD 8
“Obamacare is in a death spiral. Across the country, the exchanges are collapsing around the country leaving patients without affordable health care options – if they have options at all,” said Bucshon. “In Indiana, premiums have skyrocketed an average of 74 percent and now some patients won’t have access to a single insurer on the exchanges in 2018. It’s clear that without action, Obamacare will continue to implode, putting, even more, Americans at risk until the exchanges collapse entirely. We can’t delay taking action any longer. We have to get our bill that repeals and replaces this failed law to President Trump to rescue Americans who have nowhere to turn.”
Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee
“Today’s decision by Anthem and MDwise to pull out of Indiana’s individual insurance market is devastating news for Hoosiers across the state. Congressmen Messer and Rokita are actively sabotaging their constituents’ health care by creating uncertainty in the marketplace and supporting a toxic health care plan: decimating HIP 2.0 – hailed as ‘one of the biggest success stories in Indiana health care,’ – leaving more than 310,000 Hoosiers without care, and causing premiums to rise by $2,455 a year. Hoosiers will know who’s to blame when they no longer have access to affordable care and we will hold them accountable.”
