Smith Seeks Answers for Nebraskans on CoOportunity Health Liquidation

Congressman Adrian Smith (R-NE) sent a letter to Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia Burwell with questions about how the potential liquidation of CoOportunity Health will impact Nebraskans.

“Nearly 120,000 people, mostly Nebraskans, are facing coverage cancellations due to CoOportunity Health’s collapse,” said Congressman Smith. “This is an extremely unfortunate situation and one more example of how President Obama’s health care law is failing. Americans were falsely promised if they liked their insurance, they could keep it. Now, after complying with Obamacare’s mandates, many Nebraskans are being told they cannot even keep the insurance this law created.

“I am very concerned about this situation for consumers who purchased health coverage and for the taxpayers who have seen millions of dollars lost and millions more at risk. My letter asks Secretary Burwell to shed light on options available to those impacted by a liquidation and how further risks to taxpayers can be avoided.”

CoOportunity Health, which services beneficiaries in Iowa and Nebraska, is one of 23 Consumer Operated and Oriented Plan Programs (CO-OPs) created through the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and received approximately $146 million in federal loans. On December 23, 2014, the Iowa Insurance Commissioner submitted a petition for an Order of Rehabilitation for CoOportunity Health. The company was taken over by the State of Iowa and now faces liquidation.

To view the full letter, click here.