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Insurer Withdraws From Kansas, Missouri Health Care Exchange

Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Kansas City is leaving the federal insurance exchange created by the Affordable Care Act. The move will affect 67,000 customers in Missouri and Kansas.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas City will not sell insurance plans on the exchange starting in 2018 in its 30 county area in western Missouri plus Johnson and Wyandotte counties in Kansas. The company has lost $100 million on exchange plans.

Charlie Shields, CEO of Truman Medical Centers in Kansas City says the current debate about replacing the Affordable Care Act, has insurers really worried.

“I think they looked out at the future and they saw great instability in terms of what was going to happen with healthcare reform, and I think that was part of the decision process,” Shields says.

The departure of Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Kansas City could leave many Missouri counties without any plans available through the exchange next year.

Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Kansas recently announced it is staying in the exchange and will continue to offer coverage outside of Wyandotte and Johnson counties.

Alex Smith began working in radio as an intern at the National Association of Farm Broadcasters. A few years and a couple of radio jobs later, he became the assistant producer of KCUR's magazine show, KC Currents. In January 2014 he became KCUR's health reporter.