DAYTON’S CARESOURCE TO JOIN FEDERAL HEALTH EXCHANGE

CareSource is one of five companies stepping in to make possible health insurance options on federal exchanges for certain Ohio counties that were in danger of having no choices next year, the Ohio Department of Insurance said Monday.

The Dayton company will be listed on the federal exchange in eight of 19 Ohio counties following the withdrawal of other insurers this year, department Director Jillian Froment said.

Besides CareSource, the companies are: Buckeye Health Plan, Medical Mutual of Ohio, Molina Health Care of Ohio and Paramount Health Care.

CareSource will cover those looking for insurance in Guernsey, Jackson, Lawrence, Morgan, Muskingum, Noble, Perry, and Vinton counties, the state said.

“We’re fortunate to be able to play a part in the solution, but it shouldn’t be overlooked that the willingness of local providers to come to the table is what allowed us to get to this point,” Pamela Morris, CareSource president and chief executive, said.

Some 11,000 Ohioans purchase coverage through the exchange in those counties. Exchanges are primarily for people who don’t get coverage through their employer, Medicare or Medicaid.

The state said insurers are still submitting filings at the Department of Insurance. The department’s review must be completed later this summer, and insurers must sign contracts with the federal government by late September to sell coverage on the federal exchange.