The Land of Lincoln insurance co-op will no longer be offering plans through the Federal Health Insurance Marketplace.
Coverage ends for policyholders Oct. 1 but they will have special enrollment periods available to them in order to ensure at least a minimal gap in coverage. Enrolled individuals who switch plans between Aug. 2-Sept. 30 should see no gap, according to the company.
The organization, one of many such co-ops to form in the wake of the Affordable Care Act ( ACA ), was placed into rehabilitation pursuant to Article XIII of the Illinois Insurance Code in July.
"We have already had a few people call us or talk to their providers, concerned about this," said Eric Roldan, communications manager at Howard Brown Health.
Land of Lincoln policyholders who make the switch by Sept. 30 will see new coverage begin Oct. 1. Those who switch between Oct. 1-Nov. 29 will have new coverage beginning on the first day of the following month. Policyholders waiting until after Nov. 29 will likely have to wait until Jan. 1, 2017, for coverage to begin. The official ACA enrollment period will by that time be in effect, but the new coverage won't start until the new calendar year.
Land of Lincoln, in late July, sued the federal government, saying that it was owed payments for "risk-corridor" patients, individuals who were considered uninsurable before the ACA. The company lost over $90 million in 2015, according to Chicago Tribune. Of 23 insurance co-ops launched under the ACA, only 11 are still operating.
Land of Lincoln policyholders must shoulder an additional burden besides changing their insurance: Having a new plan means that deductibles are reset; money they've paid towards Land of Lincoln deductibles in 2016 won't be credited to their new policies, according to the company.
Information on the transition is at bit.ly/2aUqGgy .
