Health insurance exchange opportunity may be missed by Idaho

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 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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Idaho seeks federal aid for the building of an insurance exchange, yet legislators are leery of the program overall

Idaho officials have submitted an application to the federal government for financial aid on constructing a health insurance exchange in the state. Millions of dollars could be headed for the state if the application is approved. Much of the money will be used to plan and build exchange program, but any efforts will first need the approval of the state’s Legislature, which has been slow to warm to the overarching federal health care law. Idaho legislators have only approved of submitting the application for federal funds, thus far. Idaho has…

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