Assurant's Time Insurance enters Illinois Obamacare exchange

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Rich Kirchen

Milwaukee-based Assurant Health will sell on health-insurance exchanges starting in 2015.

Rich Kirchen

Senior Reporter- Milwaukee Business Journal

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Time Insurance, a product of Milwaukee-based Assurant Health, will begin selling individual health insurance via the Illinois online Affordable Care Act exchange for 2015.

Time Insurance is one of three new entrants to the Illinois Obamacare marketplace, according to reports in Crain's Chicago Business and the Chicago Tribune. The other newcomers to the Illinois individual marketplace for the enrollment period that begins Saturday include IlliniCare Health Plan Inc. and UnitedHealthcare of the Midwest Inc.

UnitedHealthcare also will launch on the Wisconsin exchange for 2015.

Assurant Health executives have said the company, which did not participate in the exchange this year, would begin selling on the marketplace in 16 states for 2015. The company will not sell on the federally run Wisconsin exchange in 2015.

"With more carriers offering plans in year two, there are more choices for consumers," Andrew Boron, director of the Illinois Department of Insurance, said in a statement. "Increased competition has led to competitive pricing and individuals, families and small businesses will have access to an even wider selection of affordable health care options in 2015."

Besides Illinois, the states where Assurant Health revealed Thursday it will sell on the ACA exchange are: Arizona, Indiana, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Florida, Michigan, Nevada, South Carolina, Georgia, Montana, Ohio, Tennessee, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Texas.

Senior Reporter Rich Kirchen covers health care, sports business, politics and media/advertising for the Milwaukee Business Journal.