Health Insurance Exchange Update: Tuesday, August 28

Virgin Islands Flag

In today's Health Insurance Exchange Update, we look at how many states are emerging to start considering their own exchanges.  We are also seeing the debate emerge as to how to best name an exchange in order to best encourage use from the public.

The Democratic front runner for governor in Indiana,John Gregg, also former House Speaker have recently met with current Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels to encourage a hybrid exchange powered by both Indiana and the federal government. Gregg will be formally releasing his position in a few days. According to the Courrier Press, the current running Republican Candidate, Mike Pence, is against creating an exchange should he be elected governor Indiana.

The Smart Talk Podcast, recorded in Pennsylvania, looks at how the health insurance exchange would function and also some of the views from Pennsylvania residents. As it currently stands, there are no plans for the state to create the exchange. But as the podcast guests point out the needs for healthcare in Pennsylvania vary widely from Pittsburgh to Philadelphia and many are weary of the one size fits all Exchange that the federal government would provide.

Yesterday, Nebraska encouraged it's citizens to come out and share their feedback on how they feel about the state participating in Health Insurance Exchanges according to it's news channel KOTA.

The Virgin Islands have recently hired consultants to asses their ability to IT abillities and the impact the exchange would have on their current insurances according to JSPURA.

And finally, California is in the process of choosing an name for its exchange.  Of the many names presented, the one catching headlines is "Avocado: A uniquely California approach to affordable healthcare." According to the LA Times, names presented will undergo consumer testing later this year.

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!

Health Insurance Exchange Update: Tuesday, August 21

Indiana State Flag

Many states are in the midst of a debate whether or not to  create health exchanges.  To add to the ACA's timeline challenge  is the fact that many are waiting until November.  This is both the deadline to declare an independent exchange as well as elections when new governors will be moving into power in some states.  The insurance industry is seeing a big increase in the amount of changes affecting them.

In Indiana, candidate for governor Mike Pense was the first to respond current Governor Mitch Daniels' question of whether or not to set up an exchange for the state.  Pense believes there is too much pertinacity to set up an exchange at the current moment.  The Journal Gazette does state that Indiana has taken the first preparatory steps to create an exchange.

California residents are showing great enthusiasm for the exchange.  In a recent poll from teh California Wellness Association, 54% of those who voted stated they supported the law while only only 37% opposed the law.  In California, one out of every five individuals is uninsured according to The California Report.

Madison.com reports that Ted Nickel of Wisconsin has been selected to be the Vice Chairman of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. This committee will function as the board for all states choosing not to create an exchange and those who have not taken action by the deadline of November 16.

The insurance market is seeing a trend in acquisitions as larger insurance companies buy smaller ones in order to take advantage of the growing insurance market spurred by the Affordable Care Act.  This will put Aetna in a better position to work with the babyboomers.  According to the Hartford Courant, The acquisition is expected to be completed by mid 2013.  

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!

Health Insurance Exchange Update: Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Mississippi State Flag

It may seem that more states are coming around to setting up exchanges. Though they may not be the biggest supporters of the law, they realize that it is the law. Mississippi is one of these states. They are done with their exchange marketplace according to the Insurance Journal. Mississippi Insurance Commissioner Mike Cheney said that the marketplace is set up and will be ready for Mississippians to be insured.  Chaney believes that nothing more needs to be done. Many people, including Gov. Phil Bryant want Cheney to stop working on the marketplace. But Cheney, who is not a fan of the law, said this is the law until further notice.

But other states are left in complex situations and uncooperative state officials regarding the exchanges.

Alaska will be another state that has opted not to create health exchanges. According to Juneau Empire, Alaska Gov. Sean Parnell stated that the state will instead allow the federal government to set up the exchanges. Gov. Parnell feels that his state should not be spending taxpayer money when “so much uncertainty exists about how to implement it.” Alaska was one of the plaintiffs in the lawsuit against the health care law. Chair of the Senate Health, Education and Social Services Committee, Sen. Bettye Davis, is not thrilled about what the governor had to say regarding the exchanges. She much rather had the exchanges be “local” rather than having the federal government use their plan. But the governor’s philosophy is crystal clear by saying that federal mandates “should be paid by the federal government.” 

Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels is stuck in a quagmire with the setting up exchanges for the state. Ventura County Star reports in his second term and unable to run again for office, Gov. Daniels is now talking with his potential successors to see whether or not he should set up the exchanges for the state. States must send in a plan to the federal government by November 16. Gov. Daniels does not want to put other governors in a bind when the law goes into action in 2014. Daniels will be meeting with Libertarian Rupert Boneham, Democrat John Gregg, and Republican Mike Pence to figure out what they want to do with setting up the exchanges. 

Michigan’s Republican lawmakers have decided that they will not act on whether or not to accept federal aid. According to the Detroit News, the government gave Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder $9.8 million to set up the state’s exchange marketplace. But the House Republicans have elected not to act on the issue when they meet today. The Republican controlled Senate allowed the governor to take the money but with the need of bipartisan support, the House decided to go the opposite way. The state cannot spend the money unless they have legislature approval. 

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! 

Health Insurance Exchange Update: Tuesday, July 10, 2012

Delaware State Flag

House Republicans are going to vote on the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act tomorrow. It will most likely be ruled in favor of repeal but they need the Senate. The House’s motion will be dead on arrival. Besides the battle still being waged on Capitol Hill, there is a state that is having internal issues.  

Missouri's state officials are arguing over the semantics of their ballot summary. The state are holding a vote in November on a bill that would stop Democratic Gov. Jay Nixon from setting up health insurance exchanges without the consent of state legislature or state voters. So now the Lt. Gov. Peter King said that he will file a lawsuit citing that the summary is biased.

So with staunch opponents of the bill will wait until the November election to do anything and a state fighting amongst themselves, other states are beginning to set in motion their own exchanges. 

In Indiana, JA Benefits, a benefits provider, has begun creating their own health insurance exchange. Called JA Exchange, the exchange will help individuals compare options. The exchange will receive quotes in seconds by filling in the right information. Private exchanges like JA Exchange will be the force in the marketplace. 

Kansas seems to be in a bit of a bind with the outcome of the ruling according to Kansas Watchdog. Gov. Sam Brownback decided not to accept the $31.5 million provided by the federal government to establish exchanges. He and 22 other governors involved in the lawsuit against the bill banked on the Supreme Court striking down the law. And that did not work out too well. So now what? That is the question the governor is up against at the moment. A scramble would be on to create the exchanges themselves but the Head of Insurance Department Accident and Health Division Linda Sheppard believes that there are three choices to be made. One choice is to use the amount of time they have left to set up their own exchanges. There second choice is to cut a deal with the federal Health and Human Services regulators. With this, the federal government will set the rules and then Kansas would enforce. The third choice is to allow federal regulators to run the exchanges. 

Delaware has one foot in and one foot out. Democratic Gov. Jack Markell is unsure whether they want to expand Medicaid in their state. And since the Supreme Court ruled that the government could not withhold money if a state does not expand Medicaid, the state is weighing their options. As far as setting up the exchanges, the process is underway. But because of the state’s small size, it intends to have federal regulators take over operational duties. 

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!

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!