The White House on Wednesday released a report stating that 28 states were in the process of creating state-run Affordable Insurance Exchanges which are a key component in Affordable Care Act, the nation’s health care reform law passed in March of 2010.
Designed to help consumers choose a private insurance plan which meets their needs, these exchanges will give the consumer one central hub where they can obtain any information required in their decision-making process.
In a White House press release, 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.”
The report detailed the progress of implementation in 10 states: Alabama, Colorado, Idaho, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nevada, New York, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island.
According to the report, other states have moved towards the set up of exchanges: Alaska, New Hampshire and Wyoming. Ohio and Nebraska may also work towards the creation of state-run exchanges this year.
The report also discussed the creation of partnership exchanges in which the state does not run a full exchange but rather shares these duties with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Arkansas is considering this solution.
In addition, the HHS will be developing over the next several months a federally-facilitated exchange for states which choose not to create an exchange.
Utah and Massachusetts already had in place programs similar to health care exchanges prior to the enactment of the 2010 national health care reform law, though they may need to make minor adjustments in order to coordinate them with the Affordable Care Act.
Thus far among other things, the Affordable Care Act has helped millions of children and young adults remain insured, provided Americans with a Patient’s Bill of Rights, removed lifetime limits on health insurance coverage set in place by insurance companies, provided help to millions of senior Americans struggling to pay prescription costs, and stopped insurance companies from blocking coverage or payment of medical expenses of a customer based upon an incurred illness or pre-existing condition.
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