eAlert Thu, 09/14/2017 - 12:00 668c99cf-4165-4af6-aec7-16bb51e6409b

<p>With the September 27 deadline for participating in the Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplaces fast approaching — but uncertainty over federal funding for health plans continuing — Virginia officials have announced that as many as 63 counties may be without coverage following the recent withdrawal of an insurer. And many more counties appear likely to have just one insurer offering marketplace coverage.</p><p>In a new <em>To the Point</em> post, Georgetown University’s JoAnn Volk, Justin Giovannelli, and Kevin Lucia review options for meeting the needs of consumers in “bare counties,” including two Senate proposals.</p>
<p>To ensure access to the ACA’s financial help without undermining market stability, the authors say that Congress should allow residents of bare counties to use the subsidies to buy into other comprehensive coverage, such as Medicaid or plans offered through the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program. </p>

http://www.commonwealthfund.org/publications/newsletters/ealerts/2017/sep/bare-counties-solutions Read the post