Tenn.'s largest health insurer to extend coverage

Tennessee's largest health insurer says it intends to extend coverage for plans that were deemed invalid under the federal healthcare law.

The decision by BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee comes after President Barack Obama said companies can continue providing coverage for a year under policies that do not comply with new requirements of the beleaguered healthcare law. That left insurance companies and states to determine how to respond to the president's decision.

The Tennessean reports that BlueCross BlueShield had its response Friday. The insurer says it supports the effort to let its individual members and small businesss customers keep their existing coverage. It says it will work with state regulators to update policies and review rates to keep the plans available to those customers.