health insurance exchange

Insurance Exchange Grows Into $39.5M Operation

Whitney Jones and The Associated Press — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 13:49:06 +0000

Federal health care reforms have led to the creation of a government agency in Kentucky comparable in staffing to the secretary of state's office, with 30 employees. But it also has scores of contract workers and an annual budget more than 10 times larger, at $39.5 million. The Kentucky Health Benefits Exchange will help more than 600,000 uninsured residents arrange coverage under the Affordable Care Act.

Tea Party Activists Take Aim at Insurance Exchange

Whitney Jones and The Associated Press — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 18:57:11 +0000

Tea party activists are pushing to dismantle Kentucky's new health insurance exchange before it even gets off the ground. After a Thursday board meeting for the Kentucky Health Benefit Exchange activists said they are supporting a bill to require legislative approval of the exchange, which was created by Gov. Steve Beshear’s executive order.

Kentucky Health Co-Op Not in Danger After Fiscal Cliff Cuts

Kenny Colston (KPR) — Tue, 15 Jan 2013 21:16:39 +0000

One lesser-known aspect of the Affordable Care Act is it’s reliance on state health cooperatives — which work separate of the state- or federally run health exchange, but are free to offer their own brand of insurance on the exchange.

But recent Congressional deal-making is putting those co-ops in danger.

While states are getting grants to fund their exchanges, co-ops were getting federal loans which had to be paid back within five years.

Legislators Unlikely to Put State Health Exchange into Law

Kenny Colston (KPR) — Mon, 31 Dec 2012 14:41:44 +0000

Despite progress toward building a state-run health insurance exchange in Kentucky, Governor Steve Beshear will likely have to re-issue an executive order to keep it alive. Beshear issued an order creating the exchange earlier this year, after the Supreme Court ruled the Affordable Care Act was constitutional. And it’s a goal of state health officials to get the exchange protected under a law, rather than an executive order. Republican State Senator Tom Buford says his colleagues aren’t likely to support an exchange law.

TN Still Must Decide on Health Insurance Exchange

The Associated Press and Whitney Jones — Tue, 04 Dec 2012 14:14:21 +0000

The deadline nears for Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam to decide how the state will comply with a key component of the federal health care law. Haslam’s administration has been on the fence about whether to recommend a state-run health insurance exchange or to defer to the federal government to create it.

Haslam Blames Feds for Health Insurance Delay

Whitney Jones and The Associated Press — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 13:46:13 +0000

Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam says the lack of information from the White House is to blame for the delay in the state’s decision about running its own health insurance exchange under the new federal health care law. Haslam says President Barack Obama’s administration has refused to answer questions about health insurance raised by Republican governors.

Afternoon Round-Up 7/23/12

Rose Krzton-Presson — Mon, 23 Jul 2012 21:06:38 +0000

Today on NPR: Paterno's Statue Comes Down

State Legislation:

Kentucky Health Insurance Exchange Will be Online

Kenny Colston (KPR) — Mon, 23 Jul 2012 16:50:09 +0000

Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear recently signed an executive order to create an insurance exchange for Kentucky. Under the Affordable Care Act, states must create marketplaces in which residents can purchase insurance, or else the federal government will do so for them.

Afternoon Round-Up 5/14/12

Rose Krzton-Presson — Mon, 14 May 2012 21:20:06 +0000

Today on NPR: Companies are using algorithms to guess your favorite film, track the development of the Occupy movement and predict insurgencies in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Illinois Legislature:

Illinois Health Insurance Exchange Possible

Drew Adams and The Associated Press — Mon, 14 May 2012 21:08:47 +0000

Illinois Governor Pat Quinn may use an executive order to establish a health insurance exchange in his state. Quinn adviser Michael Gelder looming federal deadlines leave Quinn two choices: calling a special session or issuing an executive order. Illinois Republicans say an executive order would be inappropriate, especially before the U.S. Supreme Court rules on the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act. Only New York and Rhode Island have previously established exchanges by executive order.