Former Aetna CEO suggests separating special enrollment customers on exchanges

A separate risk pool for customers who purchase insurance from the Affordable Care Act (ACA) exchanges during the special enrollment period could help stabilize the market, argued former Aetna CEO and chairman Ronald Williams.

Williams, writing in an op-ed published by the Wall Street Journal, said while CMS has made adjustments to the marketplace, insurers could be lured back in by changes which prevent customers from buying coverage when they need health care services, then cancelling it once they don’t.

“We could place consumers enrolling during the Special Enrollment Period (SEP) into special risk pools separate from the federal health exchanges,” Williams wrote. “These risk pools could be made available for this specific purpose, and be monitored and managed by insurers. Risk pools existed in many states prior to the [ACA] and some states are considering reinstating them. Another option would be refundable tax credits, which are similar to paying for health insurance through taxes.”

If special enrollment periods will remain, Williams said health agencies should require customers to prove they’re eligible—the same standard included in a proposed rule from HHS released in June.

For more on Williams’ thoughts on ways to attract insurers back to the exchanges, click on the link below: