Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon announced that Christus Health Plan Louisiana became licensed as an HMO on August 19, 2019. Christus will soon finalize its form and rates for both on-exchange and off-exchange products in 2020. Louisiana Department of Insurance staff is working closely with Christus leadership to bring their filings into compliance so the Christus product will be available to consumers prior to the ACA open enrollment period running from November 1, 2019 to December 15, 2019.
Donelon stated, “I’m very encouraged by Christus’s decision to enter the Louisiana market. This move will strengthen our competition in this ACA individual market segment. Additionally, the broader Christus organization already has a strong presence throughout Louisiana, maintaining sizeable hospitals in Shreveport, Alexandria and Lake Charles. This existing footprint and experience in our state will help Christus quickly offer an effective and competitive product.”
Christus intends to initially offer its on-exchange product in the Shreveport/Bossier, Lake Charles and Alexandria areas and to provide its off-exchange product in the entire western third of the state. This regional focus will allow Christus to effectively manage the roll-out in parishes where the Christus Health System already has an established hospital and primary care presence.