States refuse to build their own health insurance exchange programs The 29 states that combated the Affordable Care Act for the past two years are now resisting the establishment of health insurance exchanges. These exchanges are required by the federal health care law to be built in each state. Health insurance exchanges are designed to provide consumers with affordable access to coverage and allow U.S. citizens to more easily comply with the law’s health insurance mandate. The states opposing the establishment of health insurance exchanges argue that the health care…
Read MoreTag: governor Mary Fallin
Oklahoma lawmakers look to expand liability protection to shelter providers
Lawmakers seek to provide comprehensive liability protection insurance… Last weekend, a number of powerful tornadoes swept through the state of Oklahoma, as well as its neighbors. According to the National Weather Service, 75 tornadoes touched down throughout the Midwest, many of which caused rampant damage throughout the region, especially in Oklahoma, where a powerful tornado claimed six lives. The total damage of the tornado outbreak is still be assessed by the insurance industry, but the event has spurred Oklahoma lawmakers to develop a comprehensive liability protection policy to help shelter…
Read MoreOklahoma shelves plans to build its own health insurance exchange
Oklahoma lawmakers have determined that the state will not work to build its own health insurance exchange. The exchange is mandated by the Affordable Care Act. Federal officials claim that insurance exchanges would give consumers access to affordable coverage and help reduce the cost of insurance premiums. Oklahoma legislators are not keen to take this as fact, however, and will wait until the U.S. Supreme Court has reviewed the federal law before they continue to work to comply with the federal government’s mandates. Oklahoma is one of many states that…
Read MoreOklahoma legislative panel suggests building a health insurance exchange
A legislative panel commissioned to determine whether Oklahoma should pursue building its own health insurance exchange system has finally reached a conclusion. The panel released a report to the state’s Legislature recommending action be taken on building an exchange in order to avoid the federal government taking charge and establishing its own. The state has had a rocky history with the concept of the exchange and has been slow to adopt legislation that would make the program possible. The panel is now stressing the importance of building an adequate system…
Read MoreStudy shows that states could see major benefits from establishing health insurance exchanges
A new study from the Urban Institute, an organization that investigates social and economic problems in the U.S., suggests that Oklahoma, as well as 14 other states, could see major benefits from establishing a health insurance exchange. The study shows that, at this point, Oklahoma has done the least to make progress on the project, apart from states that have refused the law completely. A health insurance exchange would have a significant economic impact for the state and its peoples, according to the Urban Institute. Over the past year, three…
Read More