D.C. Officials, CareFirst Clash Over Insurance Offerings
The Washington Post reports that D.C. officials have criticized the insurer for cutting the number of small business plans it will offer in the city's online insurance marketplace. Meanwhile, the Associated Press reports the city council is considering a measure that would require all individual and small business plans to be sold through that marketplace by 2015.
The Washington Post: DC Officials, CareFirst At Odds Over Health Insurance Exchange
Top District officials, including its insurance commissioner, have sharply criticized the region's largest health insurer in recent days, accusing it of "gaming the system" and undermining the city's closely watched efforts to establish a health insurance exchange. But CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield said in a statement Monday that it remains committed to the exchange and said the officials' accusation is "neither correct nor reflects CareFirst's intent" (DeBonis, 6/3).
The Associated Press/Washington Post: DC Council To Consider Moving All Insurance For Individuals, Small Businesses To Exchange
The D.C. Council is taking up a bill that would push the nation's capital to the forefront of implementing a health insurance exchange as mandated by the federal health care overhaul. The bill being considered Tuesday would require that all health insurance for individuals and small businesses be purchased through the exchange by 2015, essentially closing the city's insurance market (6/4).