Bright Health Company of North Carolina will cease selling individual health plans under the Affordable care Act in North Carolina the end of this year.
Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey said, “I want Bright Health members to know that the North Carolina Department of Insurance will continue to monitor the company’s activities to make sure consumers are protected.”
Bright Health’s members should expect to receive a letter from the insurer informing them of its plans to leave the North Carolina market in 2023. Members and interested parties can learn more about Bright Health’s decision reading the insurer’s press release or visiting www.brighthealthgroup.com.
The insurer will continue to provide coverage and pay claims through the end of 2022. However, Bright Health members must continue to pay premiums through the end of 2022 to receive such coverage.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) will automatically move all Bright Health memberships to other companies in the North Carolina ACA market effective Jan. 1, 2023. However, during the ACA open enrollment period of Nov. 1, 2022, through Jan. 15, 2023, members have the choice of keeping their auto-assigned plan or selecting a plan from another insurance company.
While the auto-assigned plans closely match the benefit plans consumers have with Bright Health, the cost and benefits of these plans may vary.
All Bright Health policyholders will receive a notification by mail from their auto-assigned insurance company about the pricing and benefit information regarding their new plans. They will also receive notification from CMS about the auto-assignment.
Commissioner Causey reminds all North Carolina consumers who purchase their health insurance through the HealthCare.gov website to shop for health insurance that will best fit their needs in 2023: https://www.healthcare.gov/apply-and-enroll/get-ready-to-apply/.
If you have questions, please call the Department of Insurance’s Consumer Services Division at 855-408-1212 or visit www.ncdoi.gov.