More insurers join exchanges prior to second ACA enrollment period

More publicly traded insurers are planning to sell coverage through the ACA’s exchanges during the upcoming enrollment period. According to Health and Human Service data, 77 new insurers will be entering the exchanges in the 44 states that made such data available. Fourteen insurers that offered coverage in 2014 will not participate in 2015. Some insurers are expanding their participation in the second open enrollment period, including:

• Aetna, which now will sell plans through exchanges in 18 states after joining Georgia’s exchange;
• Cigna, which will now sell plans through exchanges in eight states after adding plans to the Georgia, Maryland and Missouri exchanges;
• Humana, which will now sell plans in exchanges in 15 states, compared with 14 states during the initial enrollment period; and
• UnitedHealth Group, which will sell plans through exchanges in 24 states, more than doubling its participation rate.

Unlike last year, federal health officials are not setting specific enrollment goals for the Affordable Care Act’s second open enrollment period.