Insurer Predicts Thousands Will Leave Health Care Market

PORTLAND, Maine - A major health insurance provider in Maine is predicting enrollment in the state's Affordable Care Act insurance market will drop.
 
The Portland Press Herald reports Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield foresees an 11 percent drop in Maine's ACA marketplace. Anthem attributes the potential decrease to President Donald Trump's health care policies.
 
Anthem says President Trump's decision to weaken the individual mandate will lead to healthy people dropping coverage. The insurer says older, sicker people left in the marketplace will be more expensive to cover.
 
Anthem, Community health Options and Harvard Pilgrim have all proposed rate increases for 2018.
 
Health policy consultant Mitchell Stein says uncertainty leads to higher insurance rates. Stein adds that replacing the ACA will not save the federal government money.