Co-op failures adds to speculation about future of ACA: 4 things to know

As the insurance co-ops fail, and insurers leave the ACA exchanges some healthcare experts fear for the future of the monumental legislation, the Chicago Tribune reports.

Here's what you should know.

1. Seventeen of the 23 original co-ops have failed, dumping more than 800,000 members back into the ACA exchanges over the last two years.

The co-ops faced similar problems most insurers are faced where sicker patients took up more resources than what healthier patients provided.

2. Aaron Albright, a spokesman for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, refuted the idea saying the ACA continues to see enrollees that are satisfied with their coverage.

3. Anthem, the last large insurer to stay in the exchanges, expects it'll break even on ACA business in 2017, with profits projected for 2018.

Aetna and Humana both were projected to lose approximately $300 million, and are leaving the exchanges en masse.

4. Deep Banerjee, an analyst with S&P Global, said he is unsure if the remaining co-ops will receive additional funding. The co-op in New Jersey isn't selling policies in 2017, and the Community Health Options, in Maine, is pulling out of New Hampshire.

If all the remaining co-ops fail, Bloomberg predicts 240,000 members will be without coverage.

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