The widespread change for healthcare under the directive of the Affordable Care Act continues to challenge groups from consumers to businesses and health plan carriers to health insurance agencies.
As we enter into another open enrollment period for health insurance, we build on the confidence of the Supreme Court’s decision late June 2015 of the ACA (see our viewpoint here). We also consider trends and practices specific to the state of Minnesota and its top health insurance providers during this time in 2014, when the 2015 rates and details were in the process of being formulated and announced.
Looking back, we learned a lot. We monitored mass announcements regarding healthcare and policy from the state and federal government. We maintained our close connections with healthcare providers to be sure we understood their planned offerings and rates. We went with the flow when the disclosure of these annual announcements was delayed or varied greatly from the expected announcement.
And now that 2016 Open Enrollment is upon us beginning November 1, 2015, two weeks earlier than last year’s open date, we’ll take this approach again. Over the past months, we’ve been tracking and analyzing options for our customers for 2016 health insurance plans. Not surprisingly, given the newness of the ACA impact on carriers, we’re seeing a much different landscape for provider rates for 2016.
At MHIA, Minnesota Health Insurance Agency, our role is to find the best plan for each of our customers. We look at Medica, Health Partners, Preferred One and Blue Cross to compare rates and plans. In general, it’s safe to say that many of our customers currently holding a Blue Cross plan in 2015, can expect us to recommend a shift to an alternate carrier for 2016.
With the state of Minnesota set to officially announce pricing for 2016 on October 1, 2015, we’ll be able to alert our plan holders to that pricing mid-September. As always, there will be changes related to 2016 plans — some minor and some more significant.
While the open enrollment time period is still three months, you should be aware that it’s been moved up two weeks earlier this year to begin on November 1, 2015 (see rates and details for November 1, 2015 – January 31, 2016 open enrollment here, noting that the first date coverage can start is January 1, 2016.)
Let us help you navigate all of these changes and find the right health insurance plan to meet your needs for 2016!