The OCI expects 37,160 Wisconsinites to be affected by exiting insurers

The Office of Commissioner of Insurance says it expects 37,160 Wisconsinites will be affected by insurers exiting the Healthcare.gov marketplace next year or no longer offering plans in their county.

The agency is planning seven town halls across the state as open enrollment for the federal marketplace kicks off Nov. 1.

The town hall will also help inform those 37,160 consumers on how they can prevent “auto re-enrollment” into a new Healthcare.gov plan. Unless they opt out of re-enrollment or pick a new plan by Dec. 15, the feds may automatically put them in a new plan for 2017.

“These consumers will unfortunately endure the harms of ‘auto re-enrollment’ unless they understand their options moving forward,” Commissioner Ted Nickel said. “To alleviate confusion, we will be traveling the state to provide information on the 2017 open enrollment and strongly encourage consumers who will be affected by ‘auto re-enrollment’ to opt-out and shop for health care coverage either on or off the exchange.”

The seven OCI town halls, which will also provide broader information on open enrollment, will take place in Eau Claire, La Crosse, Milwaukee, Madison, Green Bay, Tomahawk and Wausau.

Open enrollment for 2017 plans ends Jan. 31.

See the release:
http://oci.wi.gov/Pages/PressReleases/20161018TownHallMtgs.aspx