AUG 23, 2016 – Bruce Japsen
As Aetna AET -0.37% and UnitedHealth Group UNH -1.17% retreat next year from most public exchanges under the Affordable Care Act in the face of losses they say they can’t handle, a model is emerging in Florida that may be the answer to caring for patients and turning a profit.
Florida Blue, a Blue Cross and Blue Shield plan, is offering a diverse mix of products statewide on public exchanges. That is in sharp contrast to UnitedHealth and Aetna, two of the nation’s largest health insurers, which will leave public exchanges in most states–including Florida beginning in 2017.
“ Florida Blue offers every metal level ACA product in every county in the state , and we offer four different product networks to satisfy a full range of consumer needs, so the makeup of the plans our members have chosen is very mixed,” Florida Blue spokesman Paul Kluding said in an interview.
Florida Blue said it began to prepare for Obamacare patients and their expensive medical claims three years ago when the rollout of coverage was dogged by technical issues of the Healthcare.gov web site. Back then, Florida Blue opened 20 retail centers across the state to sign up residents and the investment paid off.
