Tag: Idaho health insurance

Idaho may miss chance to build health insurance exchange

S.Vagus
Idaho Insurance Commissioner, Bill Deal

Upheld law requires states to comply with provisions The Affordable Care Act has been upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court. While many may still oppose the law and its various provisions, states are required to comply with the law or risk facing consequences. For those that have spent the better part of the past two years fighting the law, it may be too late to comply with one of its less controversial provisions: The establishment of health insurance exchanges. This may indeed be the case for Idaho. Insurance Commissioner warns…

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Health insurance exchange opportunity may be missed by Idaho

H. Cutner
health insurance reform

It could be too late for the state to establish its own exchange. The state of Idaho has now been cautioned that it may be too late for it to create its own health insurance exchange to be run by the state, as the federal deadlines are now rapidly approaching. This, according to the Insurance Director of the state, Bill Deal. Deal gave this warning to the lawmakers in the state because “We’ve not been given the direction to move forward.” He made this statement to the Idaho Legislature’s joint…

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Idaho to shun federal financial aid for building a health insurance exchange

Marc

Idaho legislators are opposing the idea of using federal grants to build a health insurance exchange in the state. Last year, the Department of Health and Human Services rewarded $20.3 million to the state in order to help with the project. Governor C.L. Otter was eager to use the money to push ahead the construction effort and prepare the state for a new health insurance system. Legislators failed to approve a plan that would put the money to use, however, they are now looking to build an exchange without federal…

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Idaho insurers will be able to participate in federally-run insurance exchange

In Idaho, the issue of a health insurance exchange has been a controversial one since the Affordable Care Act was passed in 2010. State lawmakers have been divided on the issue primarily due to their uncertainty about whether or not the state’s insurance companies could participate in the exchange program. Legislators had been concerned that if they chose not to build an exchange and allow the federal government to do it for them that the exchange would only be populated by large insurance corporations such as Blue Cross Blue Shield.…

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Idaho legislators debate health insurance exchange issues as new legislative session begins

The Idaho Legislature convened earlier this month for its latest legislative session and one of the main topics of discussion is whether the state will build a health insurance exchange program. The state has received a $20 million federal grant to help build the exchange, but legislators have yet to accept the funds as they still remain divided on the issue. Idaho is one of 22 states that have not reached a conclusion on what to do about an insurance exchange yet. Health insurance exchanges are part of the Affordable…

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