The only thing I know about this is what I read, most of which is linked here. No doubt the decision by BCBS Minnesota is tough - I feel bad for people there in their individual PPO network. They are not a national insurer - BCBS is mostly separate state businesses with a common link and reciprocation agreements. The MN Bluecard network still works for people in other states.I agree with what you say, but I'm not as confident as you are about the long term scenario.BCBS has no individual plans in MN in 2017. They have been my insurer of choice for almost 40 years.I still have my group small business plan, but will have 2017 income that would get me some assistance with premiums. So even the off exchange third are being affected by this. I can either stay with the small business deductible premium or go the ACA route and switch carriers, that is until I don't have one to choose from. What I can't do is change anything and still be BCBS, at any cost. They don't want me.
I would go with the national pool which makes area cherry picking impossible but I don't get to decided how it works.
This leads me to conclude that they would continue if they could, and they can't get the authorization to increase the price to where they need it.