Arkansas Insurance Commissioner advocates expansion of Medicaid program

Arkansas Insurance Commissioner Jay Bradford - Health insurance

Arkansas health insurance could be affected by expansion of Medicaid Arkansas Insurance Commissioner Jay Bradford has begun touring the state in order to promote the expansion of the state’s Medicaid program. The state’s Legislature is set to vote on a bill on February 1 that will provide the necessary funding for health care initiatives. According to Commissioner Bradford, expanding the state’s Medicaid program should be a top priority for legislators that are concerned about health care and the availability of health insurance in Arkansas. Bradford works to make information more…

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Arkansas lawmakers approve funding for health insurance exchange

New funding will allow state to continue managing exchange alongside federal government Lawmakers in Arkansas have approved funding that will allow the state to continue operating its own health insurance exchange. The funds, some $10.6 million, were approved by the Arkansas Legislative Council during a heated voting session. Many legislators opposed the initiative, suggesting that the Affordable Care Act remains flawed and that the federal law could potentially damage the state’s insurance market. Others claimed that the funding was needed in order to ensure that Arkansas has some degree of…

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Health insurance rates in Arkansas to remain stable

Arkansas Health Insurance

Health insurance companies announce plan to keep rates stable Three of Arkansas’ largest health insurance companies have announced that they will keep rates for individual policyholders steady through the first year of the Affordable Care Act. The federal health care law has raised many concerns regarding the growing costs of health insurance coverage. Many people believe that the law will cause rates to spike in the individual and group markets and these concerns are often stoked by insurance providers. In many states, however, rates are expected to increase by a…

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Health insurance exchange in Arkansas draws attention of 4 insurers

Health Insurance rates and care

Four companies have now expressed their interest in selling policies over the state’s online marketplace. The Arkansas Insurance Department has announced that there are now four health insurance companies that intend to be able to sell their policies over the state’s exchange, which is expected to serve over 500,000 residents. The department said that the insurers submitted their letters by the deadline, which was last Monday. The department explained that the health insurance companies each met the deadline in order to indicate their interest in participating in the Arkansas exchange,…

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Health insurance alternative becomes law in Arkansas

Arkansas Health Insurance

Arkansas health insurance law provides alternative to expansion of Medicaid program The Affordable Care Act has seen no shortage of controversy and challenge in the U.S. While some states have worked to unseat the federal law, despite it being upheld by the Supreme Court, Arkansas has been one of the few that has been working for alternatives regarding the provisions outlined in the law. Earlier this year, Arkansas began developing a plan to support its private health insurance exchanges as a suitable alternative to expanding its Medicaid program that would…

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