Anthem Pulling Out Of Ohio Obamacare Market

CLEVELAND, OH — Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans on leaving Ohio's ACA (also known as Obamacare) insurance market in 2018, according to multiple reports. The move could leave 18 of the state's 88 counties without any ACA coverage.

The insurer cited market volatility and the uncertain future of government subsidies designed to keep the offered plans affordable. Approximately 10,500 Ohioans could be left without insurance coverage as a result of Anthem's departure.

The company said it may drop out of other states' ACA markets in the future. Anthem is currently offering plans in 14 states.

"An increasing lack of overall predictability simply does not provide a sustainable path forward to provide affordable plan choices for consumers," Anthem told MSNBC.

There are a total of about 67,000 Ohioans with Anthem insurance, the Dayton Daily News reports. The company said that it may return to the Ohio market if circumstances begin to resolve themselves.

One of the factors creating market uncertainty in Ohio, and nationwide, is the uncertain future of Obamacare. In early May, a repeal of the ACA passed the U.S. House of Representatives, despite the controversial nature of the repeal bill.

Ohio Representative Mike Turner broke from Republican party ranks and voted against the repeal of Obamacare and its replacement bill, the American Health Care Act (AHCA).

"I ultimately could not support the American Health Care Act. This bill will leave our most vulnerable citizens with inadequate health coverage. I cannot support a health plan to replace Obamacare that puts my constituents’ health benefits at risk," Turner said in a statement at the time.

He was joined by fellow Ohio Republican David Joyce and all of the state's Democratic representatives. The rest of the state's Republican representatives voted for the repeal of the ACA and the advancement of the AHCA, saying as a group that it was a step forward for American healthcare.

(AP Photo/Darron Cummings, File)