Aetna, UnitedHealth among insurers to sell plans on state exchange

Five insurers--Aetna, UnitedHealth, Anthem, ConnectiCare and a new CO-OP (HealthyCT) run by the Connecticut State Medical Society--have announced their intention to sell plans through Connecticut's health insurance exchange, reported Kaiser Health News.

"We are very pleased with the response from these leading insurance carriers," said Kevin Counihan, CEO of the Connecticut Health Insurance Exchange. "We look forward to working with them to bring a transparent, consumer centric insurance marketplace to Connecticut."

However, these insurers can still choose not to participate because the decision is non-binding. Insurers who didn't meet last Friday's deadline can still apply, but the exchange may not accept them. What's more, insurers refusing to initially participate will be blocked from selling plans on the exchange for two years, the Hartford Business Journal reported.

Next up for these insurers is submitting details about their plans' designs, including deductibles, out-of-pocket maximums, copayment schedules and benefits, to the exchange committee. Between July and September, the state will announce which insurers meet the requirements, according to the Hartford Courant.

Meanwhile, the exchange committee will work to promote the online marketplace to small businesses and individuals. "This is not something that is top of mind to most people,'' Counihan told the Business Journal. "It's a new way of purchasing health insurance for most people in this state. But we have a moral obligation to make this work and let people know this option is available to them."

To learn more:
- read the Hartford Courant article
- see the Hartford Business Journal article
- check out the Kaiser Health News article