Earlier this year, Aetna announced it would bow out of the state’s individual market, effective Dec. 31. Cigna is staying, but isn’t offering any products on the exchange. Right now, both companies are accepting new customers into pre-Affordable Care Act plans.
Aetna plans are until Dec. 15. Cigna is offering pre-ACA plans through Dec. 23.
Anne Gonzales, a Covered California spokeswoman, confirmed that a carrier not offering plans on Covered California “could offer a noncompliant plan through 12/31/2013 but it would need to become compliant when it renews next year.”
So, consumers can enroll now, but when the policy comes up for renewal in 12 months, the plans would need to come into compliance with the ACA — and premiums would almost certainly go up. Plans could be noncompliant for a variety of reasons, including that they don’t provide free preventive care or they charge people more if they have a preexisitng condition.
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