CoOportunity Health Withdraws ONLY from Iowa's Medicaid Expansion Program

You may have seen an announcement from the Iowa Department of Human Services (DHS) about CoOportunity Health's withdrawal from the Iowa Marketplace Choice Plan, one component of Iowa's Medicaid expansion program. The term "MARKETPLACE" is used as a label for lots of new health insurance programs including the public "Health Insurance Marketplace" or HealthCare.gov. There's a big difference in the use of the term, and it's important to distinguish them relative to the DHS announcement.  

CoOportunity Health has been pleased to have participated in the first year of Iowa's unique Medicaid expansion program called the Iowa Health and Wellness Plan. CoOportunity Health was one of two health insurance companies selected to support in the "Iowa Marketplace Choice Plan (IMCP)" for adults with incomes between 101 and 138 percent of the federal poverty level. Unfortunately, the high utilization of healthcare services in the IMCP program, most notably by the previous IowaCare population, has resulted in financial losses to CoOportunity Health.  As a nonprofit, member-governed new health plan, we cannot ask our 85,000 other members to pay higher rates to subsidize continued participation in the program. We have and will continue to work collaboratively with DHS and Iowa Medicaid Enterprise (IME) to ensure a seamless transition of these individuals to the Iowa Wellness Plan effective December 1, 2014.

Continuing to Serve More Than 85,000 Members

This change in no way impacts CoOportunity Health's presence as a health insurance carrier in Iowa and Nebraska. The company continues to serve more than 85,000 members and offers a comprehensive portfolio of health plan solutions for individual purchasers, small business and large employers. CoOportunity Health products continue to be available for individuals and families on the Health Insurance Marketplace (HealthCare.gov) as well as through the open market and on the SHOP Marketplace for small employers. Both Marketplaces will open on November 15, the same day the national Open Enrollment Period for the individual market begins.

Check ID Cards

Thousands of Iowans and Nebraskans have and will continue to have coverage through CoOportunity Health, so be sure to continue checking the ID cards carefully. That's particularly true during the second cycle of national Open Enrollment when lots of Americans can and will change health insurance coverage.

Be sure to look for the plan name when in doubt. Below is an ID card for CoOportunity Health's Iowa Marketplace Choice Plan. These members' last date of coverage with CoOportunity Health will be November 30, 2014.

Watch for more information in the November Provider Alert, coming later this week.