Health Insurance Exchange Update: Monday, June 18, 2012

Each state is on pins and needles awaiting the deliberation regarding the Affordable Care Act (ACA) in the coming days or weeks. The constant thinking among states during the waiting game is to either hold off major decisions for the judgment, act regardless of the ruling, or fight against what some on Capitol Hill deem an “unconstitutional” law. 

In New Hampshire, they have decided to do the latter. According to Heartland, the House has agreed to a Senate legislature entitled HB 1297 which would prevent state-run exchanges. Some Senators feel that this would prevent the insurance department from talking to federal officials. Others feel that this legislature will help repeal ACA. The bill will be going to the desk of Democratic Governor John Lynch, who supports state-run exchanges. 

In Massachusetts, a state that already has universal healthcare, will have its two largest insurers extend two popular provisions in the ACA even if it is not upheld by the Supreme Court. Insurers will extend young adult coverage to the age of 26. Insurers would also cover an array of services with no copayments which include certain immunizations, screening for diabetes, depression, and breast cancer, according to the Boston Globe. 

In Utah, however, they are taking backseat to the possibility of the legislature being overturn. Utah already has universal healthcare set up for residents but unlike Massachusetts, they have decided not to take any more action until a decision on ACA has been reached according to Kaiser Health News.

In Florida, they are attentive, waiting for the ruling towards the end of the month. But they are stuck between a rock and a hard place regardless of the Supreme Court ruling. In an article written for Rattler News, they describe how if the law is upheld, Florida will have to start the exchange program, identify at least two million people who would be eligible for Medicaid and distribute millions to individuals and businesses. If the law is struck down, that could set off the removal of young adults from the health insurance coverage of their parents. 

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.  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 13, 2012

In the latest news on health insurance exchanges, there seems to be a problem with exactly who should have the coverage and the ever increasing feeling of the money being contributed to the coverages for residents.

In Massachusetts, a New York Times article discusses a system in place for health insurance exchanges. There was a legislation passed in 2006 called the Health Connector. Under that law, most residents are required to purchase health insurance and it creates an online marketplace to simplify buying a coverage plan that the residents can afford. Only is Utah the only other state that had health insurance exchange before the Affordable Care Act was mandated.  Last year, we had the chance to sit down with Glen Shor of the Massachusetts Health Exchange and discuss the exchange.  Listen to the podcast here.

But the fear that Health Connector has is that they need more people paying full premium price for their coverage. Of the 224,000 people insured through Connector, 82% pay next to nothing because of government subsidies. However, if the ACA legislature is upheld, then those low income households could shift to Medicaid under law’s expansion system.

But there is still a pressing issue with healthcare that lies with the possibility of covering immigrants.

In Oregon, Medicaid and other lawmakers tend to ignore the issue of providing primary medical care to immigrants. Immigrants may be able to find work (low-waged work at that) however the employer-sponsored coverage’s would not apply to them according to The Lund Report.  

Despite the fear of paying for such exchanges and the problem of coverage for immigrants, some states are still continuing to develop plans to implement the exchanges necessary by the January 2014 start date, presuming the ACA is upheld.

In Washington, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) plan to develop verification data, services to support coverage and eligibility insurance exchanges and seeks industry information about applications that are available, according to HealthCare IT News. In addition, due to limited access to employer-sponsored health insurance and restrictions with Medicaid, 47 percent of immigrants are uninsured. ACA would increase options for some immigrants and citizens.

In Arkansas, the Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families developed a report entitled "Making Sure the Health Insurance Exchange Works for Families." The report will be used to help residents through the exchange process based on their income and what plan fits for them, according to a blog post on the Arkansas Times. 

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.  As a reader of this blog, when you register to join us and mention code XP1710BLOG, you'll receive 15% off the standard rate!