Ken Selzer, CPA, Kansas Commissioner of Insurance, said today that Kansas health insurance consumers may have additional company options for coverage in the federally-run marketplace for 2017.

“Health insurance options filed now for the individual market show that competition will likely continue for Kansans’ health insurance policies,” Commissioner Selzer said. 

Filings with the Kansas Insurance Department as of May 2 show two additional carriers may participate in the marketplace. Medica, a non-profit, Minnesota-based company, and Coventry Health and Life are companies that have filed for the 2017 open enrollment period.  

Medica Insurance Company is set to offer a number of plans, and Coventry is proposing Exclusive Provider Organization (EPO) Network plans. Both companies have filed to offer plans off the federally-facilitated marketplace as well.

Continuing on the federally-facilitated marketplace in Kansas for 2017 are plans filed by BlueCross BlueShield Kansas Solutions (offered in 103 counties) and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City (offered only in Johnson and Wyandotte counties). 

United Healthcare of the Midwest, Inc. and United Healthcare Life Insurance Company, formerly in the Kansas marketplace, announced in April they would discontinue selling individual policies on and off the federal marketplace in all but a handful of states, effective Dec. 31, 2016.

 While 2017 proposed filings have been submitted, the rates will not be finalized, and the companies will not be obligated to be on the marketplace, until issuer agreements are signed by Sept. 23, 2016, Commissioner Selzer said.

 The open enrollment period for the 2017 federal online marketplace begins Nov. 1, 2016, and ends Jan. 31, 2017.