Wonkbook: Aetna will leave most Obamacare exchanges, projecting losses

By Carolyn Y. Johnson Aetna, the nation's third largest health insurer, announced Monday night that it will dramatically pull back from the marketplaces set up by the Affordable Care Act,  cutting its participation from 15 states to four next year. Aetna's announcement is the latest signal by large insurers that they are struggling to make money in …   The latest economic and domestic policy from Wonkblog   (Jessica Hill/AP) By Carolyn Y. Johnson Aetna, the nation's third largest health insurer, announced Monday night that it will dramatically pull back from the marketplaces set up by the Affordable Care Act,  cutting its participation from 15 states to four next year. Aetna's announcement is the latest signal by large insurers that they are struggling to make money in the marketplaces. Chief Executive Officer Mark Bertolini said in a statement that there are not enough healthy people to financially offset those with major health problems who require high-cost care. "As a strong supporter of public exchanges as a means to meet the needs of the uninsured, we regret having to make this decision," Bertolini said in a statement. "The vast majority of payers have experienced continued financial stress within their individual public exchange business due to these forces." Aetna's announcement comes on the heels of an announcement by Anthem that, in a reversal of expectations, it is now projecting mid-single digit losses on the individual plans it sells on the exchanges. Humana said it would dial back its participation on the exchanges from 15 states to 11 earlier this month. UnitedHealth Group plans to remain on "three or fewer exchange markets," its chief executive, Stephen Hemsley, said on an earnings call in July. Cigna has said that it is losing money on the exchanges, but the insurer is planning to expand its marketplace presence to three new states in 2017. Read the rest on Wonkblog.   Chart of the day Fewer black men are behind bars than in a generation. Keith Humphreys has more. ADVERTISEMENT   Most Recent Posts from Wonkblog Aetna will leave most Obamacare exchanges, projecting losses By Carolyn Y. Johnson  •  Read more »   This is what happens to half of Australia’s baby formula Chinese consumers distrustful of domestic quality are feeding a booming informal supply business. By Rachel Premack  •  Read more »   Black incarceration hasn’t been this low in a generation Many people think the black incarceration problem is getting worse. It's not. By Keith Humphreys  •  Read more »   How college kids party differently from everyone else New federal data on who's drinking what. By Christopher Ingraham  •  Read more »   Why American women are having fewer babies than ever Some women want more babies and choose not to have them. By Danielle Paquette  •  Read more »   Why your smart friends can seem like such slackers Think more, do less. By Christopher Ingraham  •  Read more »   Scientific proof that Americans basically eat dessert for breakfast What breakfasts look like around the world. By Daron Taylor  •  Read more »   ADVERTISEMENT   Recommended for you   Federal Insider Federal news and policy update, in your inbox daily. Sign Up »         Share Wonkbook:       Twitter      Facebook Trouble reading? Click here to view in your browser. You received this email because you signed up for a Wonkblog newsletter. For additional free newsletters or to manage your newsletters, click here. We respect your privacy. If you believe that this email has been sent to you in error or you no longer wish to receive email from The Washington Post, click here. Contact us for help. ©2016 The Washington Post, 1301 K St NW, Washington DC 20071