BCBSAZ will drop plans in Maricopa and Pinal County that are offered through the Marketplace in 2017. These are individual health insurance plans for people under 65.
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona has decided to offer individual and family plans in 13 of Arizona’s 15 counties. But they will be canceling their plans in Maricopa and Pinal counties.
Over 40,000 BCBSAZ customers in Maricopa and Pinal counties will have to find a new health insurance plan for 2017.
These changes do not affect grandfathered plans.
BCBSAZ will drop plans, but Pima County will still have BCBSAZ.
This is good news for Tucson as BCBSAZ will be the only option for people who need a bigger network.
This is good news for people who live in counties where BCBS of Arizona will be their only option for individual health insurance.
I recently wrote about BCBS of Arizona’s big losses on their individual health insurance plans: Big Losses for BCBSAZ
The good news for Tucson is that BCBS will still be an option. The bad news could be how much the coverage will cost. About half of my individual health insurance clients do not receive any premium help. Their premiums may be going up 20% or more for 2017.
Cost information and plan details won’t be available until November at the start of the Open Enrollment Period.