Review shows inspector general for federal agency misstated Arizona insurance co-op's results

A review shows that a federal government analysis mistakenly determined that Arizona's health insurance co-op had gotten only 4 percent of its projected enrollment last year when the number was much higher.

The analysis by the inspector general of the U.S. Health and Human Services Department looked at co-ops operating in 23 states in 2014 and found Arizona's was among the worst-performing.

However, a review by The Associated showed the inspector general missed one of two annual reports filed by Meritus, Arizona's co-op.

The co-op filed separate reports for its PPO and HMO plans with the National Association of Insurance Commissioners.

The actual results for Arizona's nonprofit insurance company amounted to 15 percent of its 2014 target. Meritus says that figure has since soared and exceeds projections.

Mary Kahn, a spokeswoman for the inspector general, says the second report was unavailable on the database it accessed and would not change the agency's conclusions.