photo by: File photo

In this May 18, 2017 file photo, the Healthcare.gov website is seen on a laptop computer in Washington. Enrollment for 2019 began Thursday and will be open until Dec. 15.

Kansans seeking health insurance through the Affordable Care Act’s federally run exchange will have the choice of three insurers in 2019.

Kansas Insurance Commissioner Ken Selzer said in a statement that Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas, Medica Insurance Co. and Ambetter from Sunflower Health Plan will offer 23 separate plans for individuals through HealthCare.gov, the federal government exchange.

Medica’s plans will be available in every county. Blue Cross’ plans will be available in every county except Johnson and Wyandotte. Ambetter’s plans will be available in Johnson, Wyandotte, Miami and Leavenworth counties.

Open enrollment for 2019 begins Nov. 1 and ends Dec. 15.

“During open enrollment, Kansans need to evaluate whether to enroll in coverage, stay on their current policies, if available, or enroll in different policies,” Selzer said in a statement.

The same three insurers offered plans in Kansas last year.

About 3 percent of Kansans purchase individual plans through healthcare.gov. Just more than 98,000 Kansans got coverage in 2018 through the exchange, about the same number as in 2017.

The insurance department previously announced that the proposed average rate increase for individual and small group coverage for 2019 was less than 6 percent.

In Missouri, four insurers are offering plans on the federally run exchange: Anthem’s Healthy Alliance Life; Cigna; Ambetter; and Medica.

Average proposed rates in Missouri also are up modestly over 2018. Healthy Alliance Life has proposed a 3.67 percent increase; Cigna a 7.3 percent hike; and Ambetter, an 8.6 percent decrease. Medica is new to the state.

More than 243,000 Missourians obtained health insurance in 2018 through HealthCare.gov.

— Article originally from the Kansas News Service