Las Vegas – Today Rep. Dina Titus of Nevada’s First Congressional District wrote a letter to Anthem, Inc. CEO Joseph R. Swedish, urging him to ensure that his company continues selling on-exchange health care plans during the 2018 open enrollment season.

The text of the letter is below:

August 8, 2017

Joseph R. Swedish

President and Chief Executive Officer

Anthem, Inc.

120 Monument Circle

Indianapolis, IN 46204

Mr. Swedish,

It is with great dismay that I am writing after learning that Anthem will not offer on-exchange plan options in any Nevada county during the 2018 open enrollment season.

Abandoning Nevada will result in the potential loss of coverage for at least 21,600 people with the vast majority of them residing in Clark County. Accordingly, I urge you to reconsider.

Since the inception of the Silver State Exchange, Anthem has been a valuable community partner and a company that has publicly committed to the growth and health of our community, contributing to the significant reduction in our state’s uninsured rate, an improved quality of care for thousands of residents, and many charitable causes across Southern Nevada.

With the company’s plans to leave first the rural counties and now the largest population centers, I have to ask: What has changed and how can I help to alleviate the problems you may be having?

I realize that the failed attempts to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act have caused instability for insurers across the nation but I remind you that there are serious bi-partisan efforts in both houses to address marketplace uncertainty with reinsurance and cost sharing plans.

I implore you to reconsider your decision before the September deadline passes. Please know that my office is always open to discuss options moving forward. See my attached op-ed, for example. I believe together we can work this out in a way that benefits all Nevadans, including Anthem.

Thank you,

Dina Titus, Member of Congress (NV01)