Healthcare Payer News reports:

Health Care Service Corp. HCSC, WellPoint Inc. and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan announced last week a joint effort to offer a nationwide private insurance exchange and defined contribution solution for employers via an investment in Bloom Health. …

When it comes to the choice for employees, it is clear that one choice Bloom intends to provide using the muscle of its new majority owners is as an alternative to the state insurance exchanges set to be operational in 2014 as mandated in the health reform law.

One leg up a national private exchange could have over state exchanges is the ability for large, multi-state employer to have access to a consistent package of benefits for their employees. In addition, there is some trepidation among private enterprise about the state-run exchanges.

via Health insurers buy majority stake in Bloom Health, will launch national private insurance exchange.