E-Newsletter

More Chaos on the Obamacare Exchanges

The health insurance provider Anthem has decided to stop selling individual insurance plans on Virginia’s Obamacare exchange next year. It will also stop selling off-exchange individual plans, except in Washington and Scott Counties and the City of Bristol. As I write this column, information had not been released as to what individual plans will be available for purchase off the exchange. Optima Insurance will replace Anthem in selling individual plans on the exchange, but Anthem’s customers will have to go through the process of finding new plans from this insurer. It is unavoidable that many Virginians will have to start over in finding a health insurance plan.

Unfortunately, Virginia is only the latest state to have major insurers stop selling plans to its citizens. In Iowa earlier this year, the entire state appeared likely to lack options to buy health plans. The state asked for a waiver from the Federal Government to alter big parts of Obamacare in order to keep insurers selling plans. With that waiver pending, a single insurer eventually agreed to participate in the exchange, but it proposed a rate increase of 57 percent for next year.

In Tennessee this past February, Humana pulled out of exchanges in the Knoxville area, threatening to leave people in that part of Tennessee with no options at all. Three months later, another insurer, BlueCross BlueShield, provisionally agreed to sell individual plans on the Knoxville-area exchanges, but even then, it placed conditions before finally agreeing to sell.

These examples suggest what the future of the health insurance market may look like in Virginia. I hope Governor McAuliffe’s administration will work hard to find a replacement provider for those who purchase individual plans off the exchange. But the larger point is that Obamacare has turned topsy-turvy the health insurance coverage of many Americans, which is why I will continue to work for its repeal. We can find better solutions to improve coverage and lower costs.

Right to Try

Recently, the Senate passed a bill sponsored by Senator Ron Johnson (R-WI) permitting “right-to-try.” I strongly support the idea of right-to-try, and I have sponsored a bill in the House of Representatives that would put this idea into law.

What is right-to-try? It allows patients with life-threatening illnesses who are out of options to try treatments that have not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). If someone facing a terminal illness tries everything FDA has approved without success, what does he or she have to lose by trying something else, as long as he or she knows the risks?

According to the Goldwater Institute, 37 states already have right-to-try laws, and Senator Johnson’s bill passed the Senate unanimously. While my bill and Senator Johnson’s are not identical, I am pleased that the concept of right-to-try is gaining attention and support. It’s a common-sense option that might bring relief to people otherwise facing the end.

Housing for Veterans

I was honored to participate in a dedication ceremony on August 16 for Freedom Lane in Wytheville. This housing development was built with the needs of veterans in mind, including those who were wounded in their country’s service. The development includes 24 one and two-bedroom units, and half are already occupied by veterans and their families. All of these units are handicap-accessible, with some adapted to serve those with more specific and severe injuries, such as sight and hearing loss. They stand less than a mile away from Wytheville’s VA community clinic.

I applaud Randy Martin, the Executive Director of the Wytheville Redevelopment and Housing Authority, and the Board of the authority, who are the owners and developers of this project. They saw a need for affordable housing in Southwest Virginia for veterans and worked with local, state, and federal authorities to achieve this goal. The brand new units on Freedom Lane are a symbol of our appreciation to the men and women who have served and a practical way to improve their quality of life.

If you have questions, concerns, or comments, feel free to contact my office.  You can call my Abingdon office at 276-525-1405 or my Christiansburg office at 540-381-5671. To reach my office via email, please visit my website at www.morgangriffith.house.gov. Also on my website is the latest material from my office, including information on votes recently taken on the floor of the House of Representatives.

Note: At the writing of this column, information provided by the state indicated that Optima would be participating in Virginia’s Obamacare exchange for 2018. Optima has since informed us that they are still discussing their participation for next year. It does not have to sign a contract that would commit them to participate until late September.

I regret the misunderstanding and no one should interpret this statement as an indication that Optima will not be involved in 2018. It is just premature to say they have made a commitment.

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