Insurers in Calif. Health Exchange Limit Providers

Insurers selling health coverage through California’s insurance exchange have limited the number of doctors and hospitals available to policyholders in an effort to lower premiums, reports the Los Angeles Times.
For example, Health Net will offer the lowest cost coverage options in Southern California, but policyholders will have access to less than one-third of the insurer’s network of providers for employer-based plans. In addition, Blue Shield of California’s exchange plans will include only 50% of the insurer’s usual provider network. Some exchange plans will exclude certain large hospitals. Anthem Blue Cross officials said they are offering the only exchange plans that include UCLA Medical Center and other University of California health facilities.