Will State Insurance Exchanges be ready for 2014?
Nancy-Ann DeParle, White House Deputy Chief of Staff, remarked, “States are taking strong steps to implement health reform. The Obama Administration is working in partnership with State leaders across the country... we will ensure Americans in every State have access to an Exchange and the same kinds of insurance choices as Members of Congress.” While the government is reviewing another round of grant proposals to assist states, some states, including Wisconsin and Kansas, have said they plan to give the grant back. Last week, South Dakota’s governor said there is too much uncertainty for the state to move ahead with an exchange until after it learns the results of the Supreme Court case challenging the law, and the outcome of the November Presidential election. “If states decide after the Supreme Court decision, we will work with them to get them as far down the path as possible,” said the official, noting that a state initially could do a partnership with the federal government, if necessary, then get certified to run its exchange solo after that. Residents in states that can’t — or won’t — run their own exchanges will be directed to a federally facilitated fallback exchange. Still, some policy experts have questioned whether the federal government will have its backup system up and running by the time enrollment is set to open in the fall of 2013. “We are making substantial progress of development of federal exchanges,” the official said, “including signing contracts with private sector vendors to create the systems.South Dakota Health Insurance Regulations - News
Dennis Daugaard has announced that his administration will not pursue legislation to establish a health insurance exchange during this year's South Dakota's legislative session. In a news release, Daugaard says there is too much uncertainty right now
Deanna Larson, Vice President for Quality & eCare Initiatives, Avera Health. Avera, headquartered in South Dakota, has facilities and provides services in a six state area. Fern Goodhart, Legislative Assistant, Office of US Senator Tom Udall (D-NM).
A list of states and their uninsured population, grouped according to the progress they have made in establishing health insurance exchanges, a linchpin for expanding coverage under President Barack Obama's health care overhaul law.
Under the 2010 federal law, which remains hotly debated, the federal government will put its own exchange in place in 2014 if Minnesota doesn't act. That is likely to occur in Florida, Louisiana, South Dakota and perhaps a dozen other states,
EDCO Group Inc., a health information management and records retrieval firm, plans to add 30 new jobs to its Sioux Falls, SD, Technology Center. The document storage company, based in Frontenac, Mo., specializes in electronic document management,
Newt Gingrich on “Romneycare” in 2006 | RedState
The most exciting development of the past few weeks is what has been happening up in Massachusetts. The health bill that Governor Romney signed into law this month has tremendous potential to effect major change in the American health system.
We agree entirely with Governor Romney and Massachusetts legislators that our goal should be 100% insurance coverage for all Americans. Individuals without coverage often do not receive quality medical attention on par with those who do have insurance. We also believe strongly that personal responsibility is vital to creating a 21st Century Intelligent Health System. Individuals who can afford to purchase health insurance and simply choose not to place an unnecessary burden on a system that is on the verge of collapse; these free-riders undermine the entire health system by placing the onus of responsibility on taxpayers.
The Romney plan attempts to bring everyone into the system. The individual mandate requires those who earn enough to afford insurance to purchase coverage, and subsidies will be made available to those individuals who cannot afford insurance on their own. We agree strongly with this principle, but the details are crucial when it comes to the structure of this plan. Under the new bill, Massachusetts residents earning more than 300% of the federal poverty level (approximately $30,000 for an individual) will not be eligible for any subsidies. State House officials had originally promised that there would be new plans available at about $200 a month, but industry experts are now predicting that the cheapest plan will likely cost at least $325 a month. This estimate totals about $4000 per year, or about 1/5 of a $30,000 annual take-home income.
While in theory the plan should be affordable if the whole state contributes to the cost, the reality is that Massachusetts has an exhaustive list of health coverage regulations prohibiting insurers from offering more basic, pared-down policies with higher deductibles. (This is yet another reminder that America must establish a cross-state insurance market that gives individuals the freedom to shop for insurance plans in states other than their own.