The New Hampshire Health Insurance Exchange is facing difficulty before it even gets started. Only a single insurer, Anthem Blue Cross/Blue Shield has agreed to participate. Also, debate continues on who will run the exchange, the State of NH, the Federal Government or a shared responsibility, commonly referred to as a Partnership Exchange.
Only one Insurer will Participate in NH Health Insurance Exchange- AnthemOne assumption of Health Care Reform was that state based insurance exchanges would be robust marketplaces where individuals and small employers could shop for health insurance offered by several different insurers. Not in NH.
"I believe it was naive of President Obama and the architects of the PPACA legislation to assume that states would embrace the idea of health insurance exchanges AND that insurance companies would rush to market their products through the exchange," says Steve Donohue, a NH Health Insurance broker with Atlantic Benefit Company.
"That is just not the case for smaller states like NH, RI and VT. Economics 101 tells us that large insurers will seek new membership growth in areas like NY, NJ or CA where there is an opportunity for more significant growth."
Debate Continues on Who Will Run NH Health Insurance Exchange- NH or Federal Government As far as health insurance exchanges go states are presented with 3 options:
However, in February 2013, Gov. Maggie Hassan sought to create a partnership exchange and received the permission from a legislative committee to move forward.
To date, debate has continued, including last week, when the NH State Senate committee voted to kill a bill (HB 668) aimed at aligning NH State insurance laws with key provisions in PPACA (See Concord Monitor article here). Proponents of the bill claimed that preserved NH's right to self-regulate, while opponents like Jeb Bradley, NH State Senator, say "... this is a federal law, it should be administered on a federal basis...."
NH Insurance Commissioner said without the bill, the federal government would regulate all individual and small group health insurance products in the state, not just those related to the health care reform overhaul.
"One thing is clear," says Steve Donohue, "the state of NH and the Federal Government have a tremendous amount left to do, in order to be prepared for the October 1st targeted insurance exchange start date."
To learn MORE about the NH Health Insurance Exchange call Atlantic Benefit Company today at 603-882-2909.
Get more from your benefits. Information brought to you by Atlantic Benefit Company offering employees and employers affordable health, dental, life and disability insurance since 1998.
"I believe it was naive of President Obama and the architects of the PPACA legislation to assume that states would embrace the idea of health insurance exchanges AND that insurance companies would rush to market their products through the exchange," says Steve Donohue, a NH Health Insurance broker with Atlantic Benefit Company.
"That is just not the case for smaller states like NH, RI and VT. Economics 101 tells us that large insurers will seek new membership growth in areas like NY, NJ or CA where there is an opportunity for more significant growth."
Debate Continues on Who Will Run NH Health Insurance Exchange- NH or Federal Government As far as health insurance exchanges go states are presented with 3 options:
- State Based and State Run
- Default to a Federal Exchange
- Enter into a State/Federal Partnership Exchange
However, in February 2013, Gov. Maggie Hassan sought to create a partnership exchange and received the permission from a legislative committee to move forward.
To date, debate has continued, including last week, when the NH State Senate committee voted to kill a bill (HB 668) aimed at aligning NH State insurance laws with key provisions in PPACA (See Concord Monitor article here). Proponents of the bill claimed that preserved NH's right to self-regulate, while opponents like Jeb Bradley, NH State Senator, say "... this is a federal law, it should be administered on a federal basis...."
NH Insurance Commissioner said without the bill, the federal government would regulate all individual and small group health insurance products in the state, not just those related to the health care reform overhaul.
"One thing is clear," says Steve Donohue, "the state of NH and the Federal Government have a tremendous amount left to do, in order to be prepared for the October 1st targeted insurance exchange start date."
To learn MORE about the NH Health Insurance Exchange call Atlantic Benefit Company today at 603-882-2909.
Get more from your benefits. Information brought to you by Atlantic Benefit Company offering employees and employers affordable health, dental, life and disability insurance since 1998.
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