AUGUSTA, Maine — A Maine-based health insurance co-op with customers in Maine and New Hampshire says it will stop selling new individual insurance plans.
Community Health Options says Dec. 26 will be the last day to buy an individual plan from the co-op through HealthCare.gov. The New Hampshire Insurance Department says residents who already have coverage through the co-op will not be affected and premium rates for those plan-holders will not change.
The co-op decided to stop selling new plans because of significant enrollment growth over the past two years and higher-than-expected claims costs in 2015.
Community Health Options was founded in Maine in 2011 and began selling insurance in New Hampshire this year. The Affordable Care Act allowed for the creation of co-ops.