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Bloomberg
Anthem Inc. reversed course and said it will offer Obamacare plans in Virginia, after a pullback by another insurer threatened to leave the state with large gaps in coverage.
Anthem revised its 2018 offerings, saying in a statement that it would now offer plans in 68 cities and counties in Virginia. Around the US, insurers face deadlines at the end of this month to decide whether they will participate in the Obamacare markets and what plans they will offer. Anthem had earlier said it would exit Virginia entirely next year, along with rivals Aetna and UnitedHealth Group.
Shares of the insurer were little changed in trading, and have gained 30 percent so far this year.
Most of the areas where Anthem will now sell coverage would have been left without access to any Obamacare plans after Optima Health Plan decided to pare its presence in the state last week. Optima’s change in plans could have left about 70,000 people in 63 counties without Obamacare coverage available to them for next year. The insurer later said it would offer plans in five counties.