BlueKC will offer health insurance on Obamacare exchange
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City said Thursday that it will offer a range of health insurance plans on the federal health insurance marketplace.
The new insurance options under the Affordable Care Act are to go live Oct. 1.
BlueKC is the first insurer to announce participation in the exchange that will serve Kansas City area residents.
Officials with the insurer said an overview of what their plans include will be announced Sept. 24, but prices won’t be revealed until Oct. 1.
“As the only not-for-profit health insurance company in the Kansas City area, we are taking this opportunity to reaffirm our mission and long-standing commitment to the community,” said David Gentile, president and chief executive officer of Blue KC.
“We see the health insurance marketplace as a tool to help us reach people who want an affordable health insurance plan from a local company they can trust to guide them through a complicated process.”
The governments of Kansas and Missouri have decided against creating state-based insurance exchanges, so residents in these two states will be directed to the federal marketplace.
BlueKC said about 300,000 uninsured Kansas Citians may find affordable insurance options on the marketplace.
“Unfortunately, many people are unaware of the timeline and application process,” the company said in a statement, noting that it has begun an education campaign.
Applicants will have until March 31, 2014, to apply for insurance coverage. But to take advantage of the Jan. 1 implementation date and avoid any tax penalties, people who want to buy a Blue KC product will need to apply by Dec. 15 this year, the company said.
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This story was originally published September 12, 2013 at 2:35 PM with the headline "BlueKC will offer health insurance on Obamacare exchange."