The U.S. Office of Personnel Management is getting ready for the first year of its multi-state health plans, offering consumers another, perhaps little-known option in state and federal exchanges.
The OPM is contracting with the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association to offer 154 multi-state plan (MSP) options in 30 states and the District of Columbia, with at least two different cost-sharing and network choices in each state, including HMOs and PPOs.
Some of those states are seeing even more options: 36 in Alaska, 12 in Pennsylvania, and 8 in Maryland, New York and Washington State.
The multi-state plans have been a long project in the making, with the OPM largely staying mum, and within four years, every state is supposed to have at least two two health plan options from an MSP.
The first crop of MSPs will be available in a variety of states, both those operating their own exchanges and those deferring to the federal government.
Several states with the largest uninsured populations will have MSPs in the first year, like Texas, which will have five options. But Florida, home to some 3.5 million uninsured, won't have a MSP, at least in the first year, and several regions of the state will have only one insurer selling individual plans on the federal exchange, while areas around Palm Beach and Miami will have as 9 insurers selling. And in six states, Kansas, Missouri, Nevada, New York, Washington, and Wisconsin, the MSPs will operate only in certain regions.
The OPM, which administers the Federal Employee Health Benefit Program, was initially planning to contract with a second insurer, in addition to the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, but several applicants were apparently turned down, and the agency will consider additional insurers for contracts in coming years.
"Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies are working around the clock on health reform implementation and are participating in virtually every state across the country," the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, led by CEO Scott P. Serota, said in a media release. "The multi-state option is a way we are offering coverage to our customers on the new exchange marketplaces."