As noted in the previous blog post, updates continue to emerge about the counties where insurance carriers will offer ACA plans. CMS has published an updated map, as of August 23, 2017 showing only a single county nationally lacking an ACA plan carrier. No sooner did that map get published than yet another change occurred, and now that sole remaining county is now covered. All counties nationally and in Wisconsin now have insurers planning to offer coverage, now that Security Health Plan stepped in to serve Menominee County. Changes have been substantial since back in June, when CMS announced that 47 counties would be without ACA carriers. Obamacare shows resilience with this challenge but remains vulnerable, as carriers can still change their plans; Their decisions focus particularly on whether the Trump Administration will continue paying cost-sharing subsidies.
Meanwhile, the Senate Health Committee will hold two bipartisan hearings in early September on how to stabilize health insurance markets. The Ranking Members of several Senate committees also sent a letter to HHS Secretary Price and CMS Admininistrator Verma asking about steps the Administration is taking with regard to outreach and enrollment.