By David Morgan
Reuters
Originally published July 18, 2013
Hoping to gain the high ground in an escalating war of words over Obamacare, the U.S. administration on Thursday forecast sharply lower than expected insurance costs for consumers and small businesses in new online state healthcare exchanges.
The exchanges represent the centerpiece of President Barack Obama's Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, and their success could depend on the cost of so-called "silver plans" with mid-range premiums, which are expected to attract the largest number of enrollees.
A report by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) said data from 10 states and the District of Columbia shows preliminary 2014 premiums on the lowest-cost mid-range silver plans in those marketplaces to be 18 percent lower on average than earlier administration and congressional estimates.
The entire story is here.
Showing posts with label Health Insurance Exchange. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Health Insurance Exchange. Show all posts
Sunday, August 4, 2013
Friday, March 1, 2013
Federal Government To Run Insurance Marketplaces In Half The States
By Phil Galewitz and Alvin Tran
Kaiser Health News
Originally published February 15, 2013
It's official. The Obama administration will be running new health insurance marketplaces in 26 states— including the major population centers of Texas, Florida and Pennsylvania.
The federal government had hoped more states this week would agree to form a partnership exchange—the deadline to apply was Friday—but the offer was largely rebuffed. New Jersey, Ohio and Florida, several of the biggest states that had not declared their intentions, officially said no late in the week.
"I have determined that federal operation of the Exchange is the responsible choice for our state," New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, a Republican, wrote in letter Friday to Kathleen Sebelius, secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services.
For consumers, it should make little difference whether the new Internet sites are run from state capitals or Washington, D.C. But federal regulators hoped states would shoulder some of the work and stakeholder groups such as hospitals and insurers wanted states to help as well. The exchanges will open for business Oct. 1.
The entire story is here.
Editorial Note: Since Kaiser Health News reported this information, Florida Gov. Rick Scott now accepted the federal government's assistance to set up the health exchange for Florida.
Kaiser Health News
Originally published February 15, 2013
It's official. The Obama administration will be running new health insurance marketplaces in 26 states— including the major population centers of Texas, Florida and Pennsylvania.
The federal government had hoped more states this week would agree to form a partnership exchange—the deadline to apply was Friday—but the offer was largely rebuffed. New Jersey, Ohio and Florida, several of the biggest states that had not declared their intentions, officially said no late in the week.
"I have determined that federal operation of the Exchange is the responsible choice for our state," New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, a Republican, wrote in letter Friday to Kathleen Sebelius, secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services.
For consumers, it should make little difference whether the new Internet sites are run from state capitals or Washington, D.C. But federal regulators hoped states would shoulder some of the work and stakeholder groups such as hospitals and insurers wanted states to help as well. The exchanges will open for business Oct. 1.
The entire story is here.
Editorial Note: Since Kaiser Health News reported this information, Florida Gov. Rick Scott now accepted the federal government's assistance to set up the health exchange for Florida.
Sunday, November 18, 2012
Missouri, Kansas Reject State-Run Health Insurance Exchanges
By Alana Gordon
Kaiser Health News, in cooperation with NPR
Originally published November 19, 2012
Immediately after the presidential election, and more than a week ahead of the Nov. 16 deadline, Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon, a Democrat, announced he had made up his mind. The state would not be setting up its own health insurance exchange.
Next door in Kansas, Gov. Sam Brownback, a Republican, made a similar announcement. These governors' moves open the door for increased federal involvement in health care in both states.
President Barack Obama's health law has never had any easy time in this part of the country.
"Kansans feel Obamacare is an overreach by Washington and have rejected the state’s participation in this federal program," Brownback said in a statement.
(cut)
Some health policy experts find the situation in Missouri ironic. "We have a state that is very much committed to state rights and state control," notes Thomas McAuliffe, with the Missouri Foundation for Health. "Yet we’re willing to just blindly cede all creation and administration of a health exchange or insurance state marketplace to the federal government." The foundation helped fund efforts to plan an exchange.
The entire story is here.
Kaiser Health News, in cooperation with NPR
Originally published November 19, 2012
Immediately after the presidential election, and more than a week ahead of the Nov. 16 deadline, Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon, a Democrat, announced he had made up his mind. The state would not be setting up its own health insurance exchange.
Next door in Kansas, Gov. Sam Brownback, a Republican, made a similar announcement. These governors' moves open the door for increased federal involvement in health care in both states.
President Barack Obama's health law has never had any easy time in this part of the country.
"Kansans feel Obamacare is an overreach by Washington and have rejected the state’s participation in this federal program," Brownback said in a statement.
(cut)
Some health policy experts find the situation in Missouri ironic. "We have a state that is very much committed to state rights and state control," notes Thomas McAuliffe, with the Missouri Foundation for Health. "Yet we’re willing to just blindly cede all creation and administration of a health exchange or insurance state marketplace to the federal government." The foundation helped fund efforts to plan an exchange.
The entire story is here.
Monday, December 5, 2011
Pa. proceeds with creating state-run health insurance exchange
By Don Sapatkin and Marie McCullough
Philadelphia Inquirer Staff Writers
After months of study, the Corbett administration said Tuesday that it was moving forward with a key - and widely supported - option offered by the federal health-care overhaul: a state-run insurance exchange.
Exchanges have gained neither the high-profile status nor the derision aimed at other parts of President Obama's program. But they are expected to transform the arduous process of buying health insurance for millions of people who get coverage individually or are covered by small businesses.
(cut)
"While the governor believes that the law requiring the purchase of health insurance is unconstitutional, we must be prepared if the Supreme Court does not strike down the law," said Rosanne Placey, state Insurance Department spokeswoman. Plus, she said, "the governor recognizes that doing nothing would result in a federally run exchange, which is not the best option for Pennsylvania."
Read the entire story here.
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