health insurance news

Staff Writers
healthinsurance.org

Updated on December 8, 2011.

The Wyoming Health Insurance Exchange Steering Committee is studying the feasibility of creating an insurance exchange. The panel’s work is being supplemented with research by the state Insurance Department.

The committee moved in late November to seek additional time to study the issue, and to leave the decision of whether to establish a state-run exchange for the legislature’s 2013 session.

The committee also voted to ask for another year to study such issues as the financial feasibility of an exchange in a state with a small population.

More Wyoming health insurance exchange links

Wyoming Insurance Department
Provides consumer protection and support to Wyoming residents by investigating consumer complaints and resolving issues on insurance matters.

(307) 777-7401 / Toll Free: 1-800-438-5768 / wyinsdep@state.wy.us

Implementing Health Insurance Exchanges: Wyoming
The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation overview of Wyoming’s progress toward creating a state health insurance exchange.

Affordable Care Act in Your State: Wyoming

Staff Writers
healthinsurance.org

Updated on December 8, 2011.

Virginia’s governor and legislature took the first steps toward creating a health insurance exchange by approving legislation to study the issue and bring back specific recommendations to the legislature. They should cover the structure of the exchange, the makeup of the governing board, resources required and other topics.

A Health Reform Initiative Advisory Council issued a recommendation in late November that an insurance exchange be established. It had previously agreed that the exchange should be a quasi-governmental agency whose members are appointed by the governor and which is financially self-supporting, according to a report in the Washington Times.

“It’s kind of like eating an elephant — one bite at a time,” Secretary of Health and Human Resources William A. Hazel Jr. told The Washington Times. “We all have to face this, and no one wants to.”

The exchange planning continues even as Virginia challenges the constitutionality of the federal health reform law’s individual mandate in court. In a letter accompanying the council’s report, Gov. Bob McDonnell reiterated his staunch opposition to the Affordable Care Act, but did not say whether he supports or opposes the state’s own insurance exchange.

More Virginia health insurance exchange links

Virginia Consumer Assistance Program
Assists people insured by private health plans, Medicaid, or other plans in resolving problems pertaining to their health coverage; assists uninsured residents with access to care.
(877) 310-6560 / bureauofinsurance@scc.virginia.gov

Implementing Health Insurance Exchanges: Virginia
The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation overview of Virginia’s progress toward creating a state health insurance exchange.

Affordable Care Act in Your State: Virginia

Staff Writers
healthinsurance.org

Updated on December 8, 2011.

The head of Tennessee’s insurance exchange planning organization says the state will continue to work on building an exchange regardless of the legal challenges pending at the federal level.

State legislators in Tennessee have not yet considered an exchange bill, but state administrators are using $1 million in federal grant money to determine whether Tennessee should operate its own exchange.

The Department of Finance and Administration has hired subcontractors to analyze the possibilities. It has also been gathering input through in-person meetings, roundtables and technical assistance groups.

More Tennessee health insurance exchange links

Health Assist Tennessee
Helps connect Tennesseans with public and private programs to meet health care needs and assists TennCare members with access to medical care.
1-800-269-4038 (toll-free nationwide) / info@HealthAssistTN.org

Implementing Health Insurance Exchanges: Tennessee
The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation overview of Tennessee’s progress toward creating a state health insurance exchange.

Affordable Care Act in Your State: Tennessee

Staff Writers
healthinsurance.org

Updated on December 8, 2011.

South Carolina is studying whether to build a health insurance exchange based on an executive order from Gov. Nikki Haley; legislators were not able to approve a bill during the last session.

A top state health official recommended in mid-November that South Carolina not pursue its own health insurance exchange, but default to the federal version.

The governor’s order set up a 12-member Planning Committee that will recommend whether the state should establish an exchange.

Gov. Haley, a Republican, has said her administration will not seek any additional federal money for exchanges beyond the $1 million planning grant it already received, despite the availability of many millions. Tony Keck, head of the state’s Department of Health and Human Services, told the Spartanburg Herald-Journal that the federal government has not yet made clear its rules for the exchanges, so South Carolina would not know the true conditions for accepting the money.

The Democratic lawmaker who sponsored an exchange bill in the last session told the newspaper that uninsured people in South Carolina need help. “Governor Haley and all these people spouting the rhetoric have good health coverage,” said Gilda Cobb-Hunter. “The people who don’t have a place at the table, their voices are not being heard.”

More South Carolina health insurance exchange links

Implementing Health Insurance Exchanges: South Carolina
The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation overview of South Carolina’s progress toward creating a state health insurance exchange.

Affordable Care Act in Your State: South Carolina

South Carolina Consumer Assistance Program
Assists people insured by private health plans, Medicaid, or other plans in resolving problems pertaining to their health coverage; assists uninsured residents with access to care.
(800) 768-3467  /consumers@doi.sc.gov

Staff Writers
healthinsurance.org

Updated on December 7, 2011.

Pennsylvania will establish a state-based insurance exchange, insurance department officials said in mid-November, despite the state’s involvement in a lawsuit challenging the federal health reform law.

Lawmakers considered but did not approve exchange legislation during their last session.

Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett opposes federal health reform and the creation of exchanges.

However, the Insurance Department has been holding public hearings and working on a recommendation on whether Pennsylvania should build its own exchange or use one the federal government will provide on a national basis.

The state accepted a $3.4 million establishment grant and a $1 million planning grant from the federal government.

More Pennsylvania health insurance exchange links

Implementing Health Insurance Exchanges: Pennsylvania
The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation overview of Pennsylvania’s progress toward creating a state health insurance exchange.

Affordable Care Act in Your State: Pennsylvania

Health Care Section, Office of the Attorney General
Serves Pennsylvania consumers with health-related problems.
(717) 705-6938 / Toll-free: 1-877-888-4877 (only in Pennsylvania)

Pennsylvania Consumer Assistance Program
Assists people with private insurance, Medicaid, or other insurance with resolving problems pertaining to their health coverage; assists uninsured residents with access to care.
(877) 881-6388 / ra-in-consumer@state.pa.us

Staff Writers
healthinsurance.org

Updated on December 7, 2011.

Oklahoma’s insurance exchange planning was handed to a joint legislative committee after lawmakers were unable to come up with a bill they could agree on.

The two Republican legislators leading the study group said they would be starting from scratch to learn what Oklahomans want to see from an insurance exchange. Both of the legislators are insurance agents. Their panel is holding a series of public meetings through the fall with plans to report back to the legislature during the next session.

The Joint Committee on Federal Health Care Law adjourned its final hearing in mid-November without any final decisions. However, an informal poll of panel members by the Tulsa World newspaper found that a majority favor a state exchange of some sort.

Oklahoma returned a large federal grant meant to help Oklahoma build the technical infrastructure for an exchange, under pressure from Tea Party Republicans who also kept related legislation from passing in Oklahoma. Gov. Mary Fallin refused the $54 million after first accepting it.

Meanwhile, six work groups have been meeting monthly focusing on various aspects of exchange development.

More Oklahoma health insurance exchange links

Implementing Health Insurance Exchanges: Oklahoma
The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation overview of Oklahoma’s progress toward creating a state health insurance exchange.

Affordable Care Act in Your State: Oklahoma

Oklahoma Insurance Department
Assists people insured by private health plans, Medicaid, or other plans in resolving problems pertaining to their health coverage; assists uninsured residents with access to care. (405) 521-2991  / Toll Free in OK: (800) 522-0071 / ombudsman@oid.ok.gov