Health care reform has been an issue for several states since its came to being back in 2010. The Affordable Care Act, which was meant to streamline both the insurance and health care industries, has been met with either extreme repulsion or lukewarm favor. Those of the former opinion have been keen to strike down the provisions of the law. One provision, however, has received almost universal acceptance. While the enthusiasm of this acceptance varies, the notion of a health insurance exchange program for each state has become popular. This…
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New legislation seeks to protect agency role in health coverage
With states making moves toward establishing health insurance exchanges, the role of agents has been a subject of debate – specifically whether they will still be necessary. In New York, new legislation has been introduced that will protect the role of insurance agents and brokers. The state is one of the leaders in pioneering insurance exchanges, but has not forgotten the importance of independent insurance agents. The bill guarantees that agents will continue to play their part parallel to the state’s exchange program. The bill was introduced by Senators James…
Read MoreGeorgia eyeballs health care reform ramifications before jumping in
A new panel has been formed in Georgia to determine whether or not the state will benefit from creating a health insurance exchange. The panel is comprised of a group of legislators, health care experts and representatives of advocacy groups, all appointed by Governor Nathan Deal. The group will be tasked with examining how an exchange will impact small businesses in the state and if the program will reduce insurance prices as it promises to. Governor Deal asserts that no decision regarding whether the state should established an exchange should…
Read MoreOklahoma sends more than a message back to capital hill
The Oklahoma Insurance Department is sending back more than $1 million in funding to the federal government. The money would have been used to review the state’s health insurance premium regulations. It will never be used for its intended purpose as Insurance Commissioner John Doak asserts that “Oklahomans do not want the federal government making decisions about their health care.” The funds have yet to make their way back to the government – the state is awaiting federal officials to retrieve the money. The money is being returned along with…
Read MoreColorado: Health Insurance Exchange Provision Won Over by Majority
Colorado has been the scene of an intense legislative battle regarding health insurance exchanges. As part of the Affordable Care Act, the provision has enemies among the Republican, most notably in the Tea Party sect. However, the many high ranking members of the Republican Party support exchanges, saying that it will benefit residents of the state more than hurt them. Despite this support, the bill that would make the exchange possible was in peril late Wednesday night. Senate Bill 200 was originally proposed by Amy Stephens, the House Majority Leader.…
Read MoreStates may be on their own for health insurance exchange costs
Health care has been a hot issue for several years now. Since the days when the Affordable Care Act was being championed by the Obama Administration until now, there has been shortage of controversy surrounding health insurance. Now, the House of Representatives Subcommittee on Energy and Commerce has approved a number of bills that is likely to incite backlash from supporters of the health care reform law. One bill in particular targets health insurance exchanges. Health insurance exchanges are one of the provisions of the Affordable Care Act. Their primary…
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