The Baylor Scott & White Health Plan — the health insurance arm of Baylor Scott & White — announced Tuesday that it plans to stop carrying Texas Medicaid plans and individual marketplace plans later this year.
“This change reflects the state’s Medicaid procurement decision and Individual Marketplace complexities,” the announcement said.
The change only impacts people who have health care coverage plans through the Baylor Scott & White Health Plan. It does not impact patients of Baylor Scott & White medical providers who have health care coverage through a different insurer.
The health plan, according to a Tuesday evening announcement, intends to exit the Texas Medicaid Managed Care Program at the end of August, which is the end of the current plan year. If that goes through as scheduled, then the Baylor Scott & White Health Plan will no longer offer Medicaid coverage. People enrolled in one of those Medicaid plans will need to change carriers.
About 3.5% of Texas’ Medicaid enrollees — or 125,000 people — have coverage through the Baylor Scott & White Health Plan, according to the Tuesday announcement.
At the end of the year, the health plan will also discontinue individual marketplace plans, which are the health coverage plans that people can purchase for themselves and their families under the Affordable Care Act. Current enrollees would need to select a coverage option through a different carrier.
About 2.6% of Texans on marketplace plans — or 100,000 people — are covered through the Baylor Scott & White Health Plan, according to the announcement.
Baylor Scott & White’s health system — the hospitals, doctor’s offices and other health care facilities — will still accept patients’ other Medicaid and marketplace health plans. Patients who have other Medicaid or marketplace plans, but see medical providers at Baylor Scott & White facilities, will not be impacted by this change.
The changes will mean some job losses at the Baylor Scott & White Health Plan, according to the announcement. A spokesperson for Baylor Scott & White said there are 321 jobs impacted across the state, including 65 in North Texas.
The health plan will reach out to impacted enrollees, the announcement said, after regulatory approval of the change.