Medica Adds Children’s Mercy to Network for Select by Medica Plan in Kansas

Business Wire

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Medica today announced it has added Children’s Mercy to its network for the Select by Medica^SM plan. Select by Medica is available to Kansas residents who live in Johnson or Wyandotte counties. Enrollment in the plan is available on the Kansas Health Insurance Marketplace (HealthCare.gov) for coverage on or after January 1, 2018.

Children’s Mercy features a staff of more than 750 pediatric specialists in 40 pediatric specialties. It was the first hospital in Kansas or Missouri to receive Magnet designation in 2003 from the American Nurses Credentialing Center for superior nursing quality. Only 7 percent of U.S. hospitals receive the designation. It is affiliated with the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine and is the principal teaching hospital for the University of Kansas Medical Center.
Medica will add Children’s Mercy to its online directory of in-network providers in the next few weeks.
“We are delighted to add Children’s Mercy to our Select by Medica network,” said Geoff Bartsh, Medica vice president for individual and family business. “Children's Mercy, which consistently is ranked among the leading children's hospitals in the nation, represents the quality innovative care our members expect and deserve.”
In addition to Children’s Mercy, members with Select by Medica coverage can receive care from providers in the Saint Luke’s Health System.
Select by Medica is just one of two product options available to individuals and families in Kansas from Medica in 2018. Medica Connect is offered in the other 103 counties in Kansas.

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24,000 Midwesterners Enrolled in $0 Premium ACA Plans for 2018

Business Wire

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Minnetonka, MN - About 24,000 people in the Midwest are now enrolled in $0 premium Affordable Care Act (ACA) plans for 2018. Most of these people live in Iowa and Nebraska, where Medica is the sole insurer. The ACA open enrollment period runs through December 15.

As of November 24, about 5,000 Iowans are covered in plans that will have no premium cost. And in Nebraska, about 17,000 people will have no premium costs. About 25 – 30 percent of enrollees in those states so far have qualified for $0 premium plans. In Kansas, slightly more than 1,200 people, about 15 percent of those enrolled, qualified for $0 premium coverage. The remaining enrollees with $0 premium plans are in Minnesota, Wisconsin and North Dakota.
The $0 premium plans are based on an enrollee’s eligibility for premium tax credits, which are available only through the federal Health Insurance Marketplace (www.healthcare.gov). In general, the $0 premium plans are bronze metal level plans. To receive any assistance, individuals must create or update their accounts at HealthCare.gov. The Health Insurance Marketplace determines actual savings available.
“We recognize that 2018 is a very challenging year for people who purchase health insurance on their own and that premiums are very high,” said Geoff Bartsh. “It is important to remember that many consumers will be able to obtain health coverage at significant price reductions through premium tax credits. This is the last week of the open enrollment period and we can’t encourage people strongly enough to shop on healthcare.gov to learn what discounts may apply to them.”

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--- go ahead share your thoughts with me now, my ears are open. I'm always eager to hear what you think.