The Kentucky Department of Insurance has recommended Anthem’s
Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) plan as the ‘benchmark’ for
Kentucky health insurance companies under federal health care reforms.
Anthem’s
PPO plan would represent the minimum level of benefits provided for
individual and small group coverage under the Kentucky Health Benefit
Exchange as well as for those offered outside the Exchange. Kentucky
took steps to establish the Exchange in July 2012 and its online
service, to help individuals and employers purchase Kentucky health
insurance coverage, will start on January 1, 2014.
Covers ACA Essential Health Benefits
Kentucky
Department of Insurance said “Anthem PPO is the largest small group
plan currently offered in Kentucky and includes coverage for all state
mandates and the 10 essential health benefits, or categories of care,
specified by the federal government under the Patient Protection and
Affordable Care Act. The benchmark plan sets the minimum level of
benefits offered in the individual and small group markets beginning
Jan. 1, 2014."
The Affordable Care Act seeks to
ensure that Americans will have access to quality, affordable health
insurance. For this, the ACA holds that health plans offered in the
individual and small group markets offer certain “essential health
benefits.” These benefits include a comprehensive package of items and
services that includes at least the following 10 categories: ambulatory
patient services; emergency services; hospitalization; maternity and
newborn care; mental health and substance use disorder services,
including behavioral health treatment; prescription drugs;
rehabilitative and habilitative services and devices; laboratory
services; preventive and wellness services and chronic disease
management; and pediatric services, including oral and vision care.
Cost-effective and Flexible Kentucky Health Insurance Coverage
According to Kentucky Insurance Commissioner Sharon Clark, Anthem’s offering was the most cost-effective of 10 plans reviewed.
Anthem’s Blue Access SM (PPO) is a comprehensive
Kentucky health insurance plan
with
a network of some of the area’s best physicians. Members also have the
freedom to choose a non-network physician. This is a great advantage for
members who may have to see a certain specialist to treat a rare
condition for which care is not available in the plan’s network.
Members
receiving care from one of Anthem’s network physicians, pay less out of
pocket, with Anthem covering more. With a network physician, members
can enjoy more effective health care coordination and potential cost
savings. There are also fewer paperwork hassles with a network
physician.
Purchase an Anthem Health Care Plan
Anthem
is the largest provider in the state of Kentucky with an extensive
website featuring a wide array of plans. If you want professional
guidance to choose and enroll in the right
Kentucky health insurance
plan from this provider, contact a licensed and experienced health
insurance broker. An established company would be able to offer all
Anthem plans at the lowest possible rates.