FMC only covered by 1 option in 2019 healthcare exchange
If you’re buying your healthcare insurance through the Affordable Care Act Marketplace and planning on using most of Floyd Medical Center’s locations — such as the emergency room, or for having a baby — you need to choose your plan wisely.
If there is any chance that you will need emergency care, surgery, urgent care or even a visit to a Floyd Primary Care physician in the coming year, you should also carefully consider your Exchange insurance selection, Greg Polley, vice president, said in a press release.
“It is unfortunate that there is only one option on the Exchange that is in network at Floyd Medical Center, Floyd Primary Care, Floyd Urgent Care and Willowbrooke at Floyd,” he said. “It is also unfortunate that Floyd is unable to affect this decision.”
Recent changes in the market have limited the number of healthcare Marketplace insurers in Floyd, Chattooga and Polk counties to just two options. According to Healthcare.gov the two providers listed for Floyd County are Alliant SoloCare and Blue Cross Blue Shield.
Of those two, only Alliant has elected to have Floyd Medical Center, Floyd Primary Care, Floyd Urgent Care and Willowbrooke at Floyd in their network for the coming year.
Expectant parents or parents who plan to have a baby in the coming year will need to choose an Alliant SoloCare health plan on the Marketplace to ensure their hospital obstetrical services are covered, Polley said.
“We believe every patient should have the right to choose where he or she receives medical care and know that their care is covered by their insurer,” Polley said. “Sadly, that is not the case in today’s market. This is truly an instance of buyer beware.”
Since the beginning of the healthcare exchange, Redmond Regional has remained in network with all available exchange providers including Alliant Care and Blue Cross Blue Shield, according to Andrea Pitts, director of public relations at Redmond.
The deadline to sign up for health insurance in the federal Marketplace is Dec. 15.
Individuals who need to purchase insurance or change a previous decision in the Health Care Marketplace should call 1-800318-2596 or visit www.healthcare. gov. Consumers should also note that a change in network coverage is not considered a qualifying life event that merits changing plans after Jan. 1.