Atlantic Information Services Analysis: Brand Recognition, Pricing May Help Blues Dominate Exchanges
Washington, DC (PRWEB) October 16, 2013 -- Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans are participating in most of the 36 federally facilitated and state-partnership exchanges, according to data released Oct. 1 by CMS, and with nearly 40,000 product options they are positioned to capture significant enrollment. In all of those states, Blues plans have positioned their bronze and silver plans with lower-than-average premiums, according to an Atlantic Information Services, Inc. (AIS) analysis appearing in the October issue of The AIS Report on Blue Cross and Blue Shield Plans.*
“When you consider the lowest and second-lowest-priced plans, the Blues are clearly a market leader with one of the two lowest-cost silver plans in almost every region,” Caroline Pearson, vice president of health reform at the Washington, D.C. consulting firm, Avalere Health, LLC, tells The AIS Report. “And that’s not surprising. The Blues dove headfirst into this market…and have been aggressive in structuring [provider] networks so they could keep premiums low.”
Collectively, not-for-profit Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans are participating in 24 federally facilitated exchange (FFE) states — WellPoint, Inc. is in eight — and 1,091 counties.
Visit http://aishealth.com/archive/nblu1013-06 to read the article in its entirety, including a table of average premiums from BCBS plans for a 27-year-old individual on federally facilitated exchanges, organized by state, and offering comparison data for Blues and Non-Blues plans.
More data on premium rates and all other aspects of health insurance exchanges will be published in AIS’s Health Insurance Exchange Directory and Factbook, a new resource available this month. The CD version will feature a complete Excel workbook with specific rates per product for each state, as well as source documents with full rate information as released by states. For more information on the Directory, including how to pre-order, visit http://aishealth.com/marketplace/aiss-health-insurance-exchange-factbook-and-directory.
About The AIS Report on Blue Cross and Blue Shield Plans*
The AIS Report on Blue Cross and Blue Shield Plans delivers timely news and insightful analysis of new products, market share, strategies, conversions, financing, profitability and strategic alliances of Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans, which are major players in every U.S. health insurance market. The 12-page monthly newsletter is must-reading for plan managers and others who consider BCBS plans to be partners or competitors. Visit http://aishealth.com/marketplace/ais-report-blue-cross-and-blue-shield-plans for more information.
*A thoroughly objective publication, The AIS Report on Blue Cross and Blue Shield Plans is published independently by AIS and is not affiliated with or sponsored, endorsed or approved by the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association or any of the independent Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies.
About Atlantic Information Services
Atlantic Information Services, Inc. (AIS) is a publishing and information company that has been serving the health care industry for more than 25 years. It develops highly targeted news, data and strategic information for managers in hospitals, health plans, medical group practices, pharmaceutical companies and other health care organizations. AIS products include print and electronic newsletters, websites, looseleafs, books, strategic reports, databases, webinars and conferences. Learn more at http://www.AISHealth.com.
Jill Brown, Executive Editor, Atlantic Information Services, http://aishealth.com, +1 (202) 775-9008 Ext: 3058, [email protected]
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