Health Insurance Exchange Update: Wednesday, June 27, 2012

Nebraska State Seal

One day left. Last moments of scrambling, a few people hyperventilating, sweat dripping down faces and everything else that goes with fear, anxiety, and nervousness will end tomorrow. Well, at least the decision will be known and politicians will go from there. And some are doing some last minute preparations just in case ACA is passed tomorrow and some are prepared. 

Michigan’s Gov. Rick Snyder is considering partnering with the federal government to run health insurance exchange, according to the Lansing State Journal. Michigan is doing this because they feel that they do not have enough time to set up the exchanges. House Republicans refused a $9.8 million in federal planning to start a health marketplace. State Licensing and regulatory Affairs Director Steve Hilfinger warned the state for months that Michigan could run out of time to get a state health exchange approved by January. Snyder is one of few Republican Governors who actually felt that the health insurance exchanges were very helpful for individuals and small companies to compare health-care. The state also did not do detailed information technology work required to map out an exchange. Michigan has been planning and plotting to establish state exchange costing as much as $1 million but they have still been talking to federal officials about actually setting it up.

Indiana is also waiting until tomorrow to see if the ruling on health care will pass. According to the San Francisco Chronicle, Indiana was preparing for the health insurance exchanges for a year and a half but even with the preparation, they believe that they will still need the federal government for assistance if it is passed. Gov. Mitch Daniels ordered state agencies to investigate the cost and feasibility of an online health insurance marketplace back in January 2011. However, Indiana has not enacted a law creating an exchange.

Illinois also is not as prepared for the possibility if the law is passed. They realized that with the decision coming down from the court Thursday, they see that they do not have enough time to set up the exchanges, according to the State Journal Register. Now the state received three grants that total $39 million to start building legislature for the exchange program but the legislature failed to pass a law in order to establish it. 

Nebraska is ready for health exchanges if the law is passed, according to CNBC. The state doesn’t have one set up but they are planning on set up an exchange marketplace. If the ruling of the healthcare reform is struck down, then Nebraska but if the law is upheld, then there will be a scramble to establish the state-run exchange program. Republican Governor Dave Heineman is exploring the option of using his executive order to get the state exchanges ready. Yes the Governor is not a huge fan of ACA, but the exchanges are a good thing in his opinion. Heineman has gone so far as to order the Department of Insurance to plan for the federal requirements.  

This November, the Health Insurance Exchange Congress will be held November 13-14, 2012 in Chicago, IL.  Here, state officials and health plans with the only opportunity to come together to discuss PPACA and strategize on how to make this a successful opportunity for all.  For more information on this year's agenda, download the program here.  As a reader of this blog, when you register to join us and mention code XP1710BLOG, you'll receive 15% off the standard rate!