By Scott Mitchell Johnson
Staff Writer
LEWISTON — A new health insurance provider — Maine Community Health Options (MCHO) — will soon be available to Maine residents.
According to Kevin Lewis, MCHO chief executive officer, the organization’s mission is to partner with Maine people, businesses and health professionals to provide affordable, high quality benefits that promote health and well-being.
“We’re a new, non-profit, member-led health insurance insurer here in Maine. Our entire focus is Maine, and we’ll begin the enrollment process Oct. 1 and coverage begins Jan. 1, 2014,” said Lewis, who was in Aroostook County last week. “We think it’s important that we get out and talk with people statewide. Our board has good geographic diversity on it, but we want to be out in the field. We have a great group of outreach specialists and they have been covering the state, but as the CEO, I think it’s important to be out, as well.”
In 2012, MCHO was selected by the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to receive a $62.1 million loan to start the new plan. MCHO is a Consumer Operated and Oriented Plan (CO-OP), which is governed by its members and designed to offer individuals and small businesses affordable, consumer-friendly, and high quality health insurance options.
Last Thursday, MCHO an-nounced the public release of its 2014 health insurance plan filings. The plans have been reviewed and released by the Maine Bureau of Insurance for final review and approval by the Federal Center for Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight.
“With our competitive premiums, we are well positioned as Maine’s only member-led health insurance solution to help transform the health of Maine people and to positively affect the Maine economy,” Lewis said.
The insurance rate structures are very detailed, and will require specific rate quotes based on an individual’s or family’s circumstances. To give a sense of what is coming, however, MCHO has provided some representative samples to demonstrate its pricing. For example, MCHO monthly premium rates for bronze level coverage for a 25-year-old range from $191 in Portland to $253 in Presque Isle. For a 50-year-old, the same coverage would range from $340 in Portland to $451 in Presque Isle. MCHO silver level coverage for a 50-year-old ranges from $396 to $580 per month depending on plan specifics and the geographic area.
“Of course these rates don’t include advanced premium tax credits that will reduce monthly costs. These tax credits will be available through the upcoming Health Insurance Marketplace for those eligible,” said Lewis. “Leading up to the start of the open enrollment period Oct. 1, we will provide tools to assist people with insurance plan selection. Meanwhile, MCHO is convening a number of informational events that are listed on our website, www.maineoptions.org.”
Lewis said there are several reasons why county residents may consider MCHO.
“We think we’re going to have competitive pricing, so I think people should look closely at the plan options as they come out on the marketplace,” he said. “We’re really focused on helping people lead the healthy lives that they want.
“Our call center is in Maine, we employ Maine people, and we’re partnering with providers so we have a broad network throughout the state,” said Lewis. “Any dollar we receive above what we have to pay for covering claims and our overhead goes back to reducing premiums the next year. We’re really aiming to change the whole trajectory of insurance in Maine and what it means to be a health insurer.”
To read more about the differences between bronze, silver and gold level insurance plans, go to https://www.healthcare.gov/how-do-i-choose-marketplace-insurance/.
