Health Insurance Exchange Update: Monday, September 24th

Oklahoma State Flag

More Republican states are realizing that they're eventually going to have a to face a health insurance exchange, so they're starting to formulate them for their individual states.

Many governors are opposed to creating an exchange, however, have begun to craft one that that will fit their state's individual needs.  One case is Governor Jan Brewer of Arizona.  Although the final word of the states and their commitment is due a week after the presidential elections on November 16, they feel that a state run exchange is better than a federal exchange.  The article also notes that Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Maine and South Carolina have refused to create state-run exchanges according to the Herald Tribune.

In Wisconsin, citizens are frustrated with their Republican representatives are not on the Senate Health Panel.  No one representing Governor Walker was on hand at the hearings to hear the opinions of the citizens.  Wisconsin is one of the states who has not committed to expanding Medicaid, according to the Superior Telegram.Should they not commit to expanding, 170,000 people will remain uninsured.

And finally, in 2010, Oklahoma voted by popular vote that no person, employer or healthcare provider could be forced to participate in the healthcare system.  The Oklahoma Constitution protected them from being forced to participate in the system.  According to the Employee Benefit Network, Oklahoma has not created an exchange and has no plan to participate in the federal run exchange.

Want to learn more about the health insurance exchange? 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: Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Wyoming State Flag

States are starting to meet with their task forces to figure out if they want to go forward with implementing the provisions in the health care law. Some states want to appear that they are at least giving an effort in figuring out what to do instead of hoping for that the president loses in the November elections. Others are starting to move ahead and implement the program to have it ready by November 16.

IBM announced that their Curam Social Program Management Platform will be used to verify the eligibility for the 1.2 million Minnesotans seeking health coverage. Minnesota, like other states, will rely on multiple technology vendors. Minnesota already agreed to a $41 million contract with Maximus to create the state’s health exchange website. IBM will work as subcontractors for Maximus in setting this up. The exchange program needs to have a robust infrastructure to support their websites where customers and businesses can compare cost online and get their own health coverage. Minnesota points out that they must achieve certification on their design and development of the marketplace by January 2013. And they hope to have the marketplace up and running by October 2013. To accomplish these goals set out to avoid a federally ran exchange program, IBM will also be working with two other subcontractors: Connecture, which is based in Wisconsin, will provide technical support the enrollment and sales function; and EngagePoint, based out of Florida, will provide financial management module for billing, aggregation, and payment reconciliation. The design of the exchange program will design information systems to see which individuals qualify for tax credits, Medicaid, or cost-sharing reductions. 

Wyoming is still mulling over what to do about health care. According to Billings Gazette, a group selected to figure out the options for the state are still left with one question: How can an exchange program work for Wyoming? Lawmakers told the Wyoming Health Benefits Exchange Steering Committee back in March to stop their work on an exchange program until the health care ruling. Since then, the committee is trying to get all the information possible and they are trying to get some information from the federal government. But some are expressing their frustration with the lack of information given to them from the government. Sen. Ben Laden said that over the last two years, they have been “shooting at a moving target” trying to get the right amount of information needed to make their informed judgment. The committee will meet in the fall. With this deadline, they are hopeful that this would give the Joint Labor, Health and Social Services Committee time to craft bills before their next session the following year. 

Idaho’s health care task force met to discuss the options going forward as well. Many leaders in Idaho are strongly against health care reform including Gov. Butch Otter. Nonetheless, they are still stuck on what their actions are going to be moving forward. One problem they are having is the inability to have credible numbers. Officials are having a hard time figuring out just how much money the exchange program will cost whether the state runs their own or the federal government steps in. In addition to being lost with exchange numbers, officials are unsure of the amount for a potential expansion of Medicaid. But there seems to be an overall agreement that even with those numbers, the minds are already made up about what to do with the provisions in this health care law.

Though states have their own prerogative, a union president voices his opinion on the idea of universal health care. The president of the Wisconsin Farmers Union argued that "rural residents often have the hardest time getting health insurance." People in these areas mostly are self-employed and have their own small businesses. They often pay way too much money on their coverage, so with this bill, it could help those who are self employed pay less for health insurance.

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 Roundup: Thursday, August 25

Healthcare Exchanges are the hot topic in today’s healthcare landscape as well as national news. With states mandated to have a plan in place by January 1, 2013, and a functioning system by January 1, 2014, the majority are trying to figure how they will implement this system. Check here every afternoon for the latest opinions and news on the health exchange.  Today we have commentary from Wisconsin, Illinois, Connecticut and California.

Here's the top news from Thursday, August 25:

Superior Telegram: More Wisconsin residents will be insured under federal health care reform

Illinois Statehouse News: $5 million is just the beginning of Illinois’ health care exchange costs

The State Column: Connecticut begins implementing Obama health care law

Fresno Bee: Capitol Alert: State health exchange taps Obama aide for director job

The Health Insurance Exchange Congress is the only place for states and health plans to come together as one and discuss the current challenges and opportunities associated with health insurance Exchanges. For more information about joining us, visit our webpage.