Obamacare is collapsing

U.S. Senator Roy Blunt (Mo.) released the following statement after Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas City announced that it will no longer offer plans on the Obamacare exchanges, leaving approximately 31,000 Missourians across 25 counties with no insurer option on the exchanges next year.

“Obamacare is collapsing and Missouri families are paying the price,” Blunt said. “We now have tens of thousands of Missourians in the Kansas City area that have lost their plans and have no insurer option on the Obamacare exchanges next year. It is another devastating blow to families that are already struggling with higher costs and less access to quality health care under the law.”

This year, 97 out of Missouri’s 114 counties and the City of St. Louis have only one insurer offering plans on the exchanges. Earlier this year, Humana announced that it is withdrawing from the exchanges. As things stand today, that leaves 25 counties with no insurer option and 77 counties with only one insurer option next year. If any additional companies announce that they are leaving the exchanges, families in those 77 counties would be at risk of having no insurer option next year.

Blunt continued, “Missourians were repeatedly promised that, under Obamacare, they would be able to keep the plans and doctors they liked and could afford. That is not true. The status quo is unacceptable, and it is unsustainable. That is why I will continue working to advance solutions that will provide more options, better access, greater stability and lower costs for Missouri families.”

Last week, Blunt spoke on the Senate floor to share stories from Missourians who have been hurt by Obamacare.