The federal government has – through the announcement of a framework for the Obama administration’s basic benefits package for Americans who are privately insured –made public its decision to play a vital role in the healthcare of the country, and the reforms it has made to it. The Institute of Medicine, a non-government, independent organization, has released a report with the guidelines for what is called the “essential benefits package”, as well as the way in which it will be kept affordable for both taxpayers and small businesses, while it…
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Institute of Medicine introduces new recommendations concerning insurance exchanges
Health insurance exchanges are, perhaps, the most accepted provision of last year’s Affordable Care Act. While some states have railed against the notion of the federally mandated program, most have been eager to explore their options. States have been slow to pass legislations making the exchanges possible, but have wasted no time in making preparations for the system. According to a new report from the Institute of Medicine, however, the future of insurance exchanges may be in jeopardy if federal legislators cannot solve the expensive flaws in the system. Exchanges…
Read MoreWellmark Blue Cross/Blue Shield not entirely sold on insurance exchange
The largest insurance provider in Iowa, Wellmark Blue Cross/Blue Shield, is still debating whether or not it wishes to take part in the insurance exchange in the state. If this insurer does not take part, it could be destructive to the entire insurance exchange initiative. The state insurance exchanges are considered to be a key component of the healthcare reform program for the entire country. Supporters of the exchanges are saying that the systems and services they will establish will assist millions of small businesses, families, and individuals to better…
Read MorePerry may repeal healthcare reforms without alternative in state with highest rate of uninsured
Texas has been named the state with the largest number of residents who do not have health insurance, so they should also be one of the states that could receive the most benefit from the health care reforms made by the Obama administration. However, Governor Rick Perry has halted attempts to lay the foundation for the coverage expansion. That said, one of the solutions that Perry is supporting as an alternative to the overhaul is an untested regional effort that may make individual states responsible for Medicare; a method that…
Read MoreThe criteria that states must meet for health insurance exchange marketplace
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is awarding 13 states as well as Washington D.C. a total of $185 million to help to fund the planning and creation of the state-based insurance exchanges that are required by the federal healthcare overhaul. Each will receive a different amount as their portion of the total. For example, California will receive $38 million in order to create its exchange. The governors of the recipient states received a letter from secretary Kathleen Sebelius of HHS, which described the various options and resources…
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