North Carolina creates Health Care Coaltion to prepare for Affordable Care Act

State officials in North Carolina may not agree with 'Obamacare', a segment of the health care reform act passed by Congress in 2010, but they are doing everything in their power to make sure they are prepared for October 1st. There are less than two months to organize, so what is the solution?

The resulting coalition is called the Federal Marketplace Stakeholder Leadership Group and its members are brainstorming ways that will make the upcoming health care reform roll-out go as smoothly as possible. Four insurance companies will be offering South Carolina residents options to purchase a plan through the federal marketplace.

The state is heading in the right direction, meeting with health insurance companies, as well as setting up a directory for residents to direct their questions to, but will that be enough?

Want to learn more about the future of the marketplace? At IIR's HIX Reloaded, we'll help you shape your strategy for the ever evolving marketplace. Crowdsource the agenda by voting on what you need to know to ensure success when coverage starts on January 1, 2014.

To learn more, download our agenda. As a reader of this blog you'll receive 15% off the standard rate when you use code XP1810BLOG to register. We hope to see you November 14-16 in Baltimore, MD!

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina create offices to educate residents for the ACA

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina opened the state's first office to help educate and eventually, enroll consumers who will be shopping for new insurance policies this October. Under the Affordable Care Act, all residents are required to have coverage, for some this will be the first time so the state is hoping that these offices will provide some guidance in choosing the right healthcare.

The North Carolina company also hauls an air-conditioned showroom trailer to fairs and farmers markets to reach out to the estimated 600,000 people who will be newly shopping for individual policies – some of them subsidized by the government for consumers who might have trouble affording a policy. Many of the individual policies will be sold on a statewide Internet marketplace designed to make buying coverage comparable to finding a hotel room or rental car.

The Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association launched an informational campaign last month with Walgreens to help provide people in other states with the material they need to help them make a decision. Many other health plans are setting up in malls, grocery stores, and pharmacies across the U.S. to help educate people. What do you think is the best way to connect?

Want to learn more about the future of the marketplace? At IIR's HIX Reloaded, we'll help you shape your strategy for the ever evolving marketplace. Crowdsource the agenda by voting on what you need to know to ensure success when coverage starts on January 1, 2014. To learn more, download our agenda.

As a reader of this blog you'll receive 15% off the standard rate when you use code XP1810BLOG to register. We hope to see you November 14-16 in Baltimore, MD!

Health Insurance Exchange Update: Tuesday, August 14, 2012

North Carolina State Flag

In today's Health Insurance Exchange Report, we see an overwhelming trend.  All of the states today have chosen to implement their own exchange.  Their next challenge is what to cover?  And for those who have not made their statement that they intend to create an exchange, the Obama Administration is making a push for them to do so.

In California, John Ramey, the President of the Local Health Plans of California writes to the Mercury News sharing his desire for his state to consider instituting a Basic Health Plan. This would allow for more than 800,000 Californians to be eligible for the healthcare. For John's complete opinion piece, visit Mercury News.

The Oregon Health Policy Board is meeting today to discuss what they'll be covering in their state run exchange. According to Oregon Live, they will be addressing what the lowest benefits they will carry are on the Oregon Health Insurance Exchange.

The North Carolina Institute of Medicine is making headway in their quest to open their state run exchange. Adam Searing, Project Director for the Health Access Coalition at the N.C. Justice Center also believes that the state must extend their coverage to some of the poorest in the state. With the federal government paying for 93% of the expansion, expansion is necessary. News Observer also comments that in addition to helping with coverage to these poorest Americans, in turn, the hospitals in those rural areas would receive more funding as they often foot the bill for those who cannot pay.

Here's a quick Q&A with Mike Chaney, State Insurance Commissioner of Mississippi from the North Eastern Mississippi Daily Journal.

And finally, this week is the week the Obama Administration is making a big push to encourage states to begin working on their own exchanges.  It's critical to start now in order to have the exchange done by the due date set by the Affordable Care Act.  They'll be making stops in Washington, DC, Atlanta, Chicago and Denver.  With only 15 states having started on their exchange, the Federal Government is currently worried about the degree of cooperation they'll receive when coordinating the reminder of the states for a Federal Exchange.  The Chicago Tribute has more.

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!