Tip 148- Local Co-op Makes Headlines

A Milwaukee Press Club newsmaker luncheon this week featured our newest health insurer, Common Ground Health Care Cooperative. At this link is a good report of their presentation.

The article contains a quote from me that falls short of what might be more instructive to know.

Premiums for health plans in the Marketplace are remarkably similar from insurer to insurer, based on the metallic (bronze, silver, gold & platinum) levels of coverage. That shouldn’t be a surprise, as actuaries all study from the same text books.

But rates are lower when network access is limited; e.g., Common Ground’s Aurora only Accountable Care Organization rates are about 15% lower than their broad network option.

That price differential explains why 70% of their enrollees have elected the Aurora only option.