Corbett nets nine insurers for Medicaid alternative

Gov. Tom Corbett’s administration says it is getting strong interest from insurers in the Republican’s plan to cover hundreds of thousands of working poor with Medicaid expansion dollars.

Corbett’s office said Friday that nine insurers have signed up to provide Medicaid-subsidized insurance in nine regions of Pennsylvania.

Corbett’s policy director, Jennifer Branstetter, says that’s an important signal to the federal government that the plan is a viable alternative to the Medicaid expansion envisioned by the 2010 health care law.

At least three insurers want to offer coverage in each region, and Branstetter says that meets the administration’s benchmark to ensure enrollees will have a choice.

The insurers include Aetna, Capital Blue Cross, Coventry, Gateway Health, Geisinger, Highmark, United Healthcare, UPMC and Health Partners Plans, which is owned by six Philadelphia not-for-profit hospitals.