Harken to exit Illinois Obamacare exchange

Harken Health is abandoning the state's Obamacare health insurance marketplace.

Harken, a subsidiary of UnitedHealthcare, said Thursday it will not offer plans on the exchange next year. Insurers Aetna, UnitedHealthcare and Land of Lincoln already have announced they won't offer plans on the exchange next year.

"It's just another reduction in options for Illinois consumers," said Phil Lackman, CEO of the Independent Insurance Agents of Illinois.

Harken's departure will leave Cook County residents who buy insurance through the exchange with three choices of insurers, according to Illinois Department of Insurance data. Harken hadn't planned to offer individual exchange plans in Illinois next year outside of Cook County.

Read more: http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-harken-exchange-obamacare-0930-biz-20160929-story.html