California health care reform moves on

California health care reform

California health care reformObama victory adds momentum to California heatlh care reform efforts

President Obama has won a second term, and this may be good news for California lawmakers who are eager to institute the next phase of their California health care reform plans. California is one of several states that has been making quick and decisive progress on complying with the Affordable Care Act. The state was the first in the country to pass laws concerning the establishment of its own health insurance exchange, and now lawmakers are looking to take advantage of an Obama victory to continue pushing for further advancements in health care reform.

California aims to raise awareness of federal subsidies

California officials have announced plans to spend more than $90 million in 2013 on marketing and outreach initiatives to raise awareness among consumers that have become eligible for premium subsidies from the federal government. These subsidies will not kick in until 2014, but California legislators are eager to ensure that consumers have the information they need in order to understand how to attain these benefits as soon as they become available.

End of election means end of distraction

Peter Lee, executive director of the California Health Benefit Exchange, notes that the election coming to an end removes a major distraction from the state’s lawmakers and enabled them to make significant progress in adopting health care reform initiatives. The California health insurance exchange aims to enroll more than 2 million people into the state’s Medicaid program and help an additional 2 million use the federal subsidies they are now eligible for to purchase health insurance coverage they need.

Insurers scrambling to comply with new measures

California lawmakers are not the only ones scrambling to make changes to the state’s health care system. Insurance companies operating in the state are now beginning earnest work on complying with the provisions outlined in the Affordable Care Act, as well as regulations being introduced by the California Department of Insurance. Insurers had previously held off on complying with these measures due to the uncertain future of the federal health care law. With an Obama victory, the Affordable Care Act’s future is, seemingly, set in stone.

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