Aetna Discontinues Individual and Family plans in California

Aetna Discontinues Individual and Family plans in California

Aetna announced that effective July 1, 2013, they will no longer offer Aetna Advantage Plans in California for Individuals, Families, and the Self-Employed.  They will still offer coverage to Small and Large Group Employers.  They will also still offer coverage to Medicare Beneficiaries, as well as dental and life products.

This decision comes shortly after their announcement to not participate next year in the health insurance exchanges called Covered California.  With ranking 4^th to Anthem Blue Cross, Blue Shield and Kaiser Permanente, they realized they could no longer meet the needs of their customers and remain competitive in the individual market.  This latest decision will put approximately 50,000 policyholders searching for replacement coverage at the end of this year. 

For those that currently have an Aetna individual or family plan, they can remain on those plans through December 31, 2013 and they will not be permitted to change to another Aetna plan.  According to their guidelines, they will still permit those existing policyholders to add spouses and dependents to their existing plans through the end of 2013.    

One of the goals set by the Affordable Care Act was to offer more choices and create new competition in the state since health insurance will officially be a mandatory requirement in 2014.  This decision will surely prompt others to re-evaluate their placement within the new health care system next year.

Aetna plans to begin notifying their policyholders by mail on June 20^th.

If you are looking for replacement coverage, please visit  www.CaliforniaHealthInsuranceNow.com or call us at (800) 560-2443.