CT Wins Federal Approval for Exchange
by Christine Stuart | Dec 11, 2012 3:32pm
(2) Comments | Commenting has expired
Posted to: Health Care
Connecticut joined five other states Monday in winning approval from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to move forward with plans to create a health insurance exchange.
For more than a year, Connecticut’s Health Insurance Exchange Board of Directors has been busy creating a quasi-public agency to run the shop that will sell health insurance. Connecticut residents and businesses will be able to purchase insurance in 2014 through the exchange, which will be a virtual marketplace where the uninsured and small businesses can shop for insurance.
The state received $116 million from the federal government to design and build the exchange.
Lt. Gov. Nancy Wyman, who co-chairs the Health Insurance Exchange Board of Directors, said federal approval shows that the state has made progress in moving toward federal health reform.
“While the majority of states are still grappling with how to move forward with health reform, all Connecticut residents should be encouraged by the progress we have made on this hugely important issue,” Wyman said in a press release.
But there’s little time to celebrate, according to Insurance Exchange CEO Kevin Counihan. Enrollment is expected to begin in October 2013.
“We look forward to engaging with all of our stakeholders and partners to ensure we meet our deadlines and deliver a vibrant, effective exchange for the state,” Counihan said.
Tags: healthcare, health benefits, Affordable Care Act, connecticut health insurance exchange, Kevin Counihan, Nancy Wyman, Health and Human Services, dh
(2) Comments
posted by: THREEFIFTHS | December 11, 2012 6:29pm
The only one who win are the Corporate Overlords and the Health Insurance Pimps who will drain away billions from the people for about the next 5 to 10 years.
posted by: christopherschaefer | December 12, 2012 7:41am
The exchange set-up and maintenance cost is being funded with $116 Million in federal grants—until the end of 2014. So is THIS approximately how much the exchange will cost Conn. each year thereafter? Before foolishly leaping into this NON-mandatory adventure—versus simply having the federal government run the exchange—shouldn’t our elected officials first have made a careful assessment of what potential boondoggle they are creating? Lt. Gov. Nancy Wyman: “While the majority of states are still grappling with how to move forward with health reform, all Connecticut residents should be encouraged by the progress we have made on this hugely important issue”. In fact, at least 17 states adamantly have refused to set up these exchanges—deferring the task—and all related expenses—to the federal govt. Could our Lt. Gov. please explain to taxpayers WHY Conn. has not opted out of creating an exchange—since no one seems to know how it will be funded or how much it will cost state govt. once the federal grants expire in 2015?