Feds increase oversight of Ohio marketplace co-op

The federal government is increasing its scrutiny of an Ohio cooperative that was set up to help ensure a lower-cost option for Ohioans who shop the federally run health-insurance marketplace (Source: “Westerville health-insurance co-op gets more fed oversight after $9.1 million loss,” Columbus Dispatch, Oct. 13, 2015). 

The Westerville-based health-insurance cooperative, which does business as InHealth Mutual, is now under “enhanced oversight,” having reported a net loss of $9.1 million through the first six months of this year.

It has capital on hand of $27.1 million — a decline from previous reporting periods, according to a financial statement obtained on Monday by The (Columbus) Dispatch.

InHealth, also known as Coordinated Health Mutual, is one of about two dozen “consumer operated and oriented plans,” or co-ops, nationwide that are receiving a combined $2.4 billion in loans from the federal government. InHealth’s share of that money is about $129 million.