States move forward to implement health care law, build health insurance marketplaces

Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius today announced that more states are on track to implement the health care law and establish health insurance marketplaces, or Exchanges, in their states. California, Hawaii, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Vermont and Utah are conditionally approved today to operate a State-based Exchange, and Arkansas is conditionally approved to operate a State Partnership Exchange. HHS is also providing more guidance to states today on marketplaces that will be operated in partnership with the federal government.

“States across the country are working to implement the health care law and build a marketplace that works for their residents,” said Secretary Sebelius. “In ten months, consumers in all fifty states will have access to a new marketplace where they will be able to easily purchase affordable, high quality health insurance plans, and today’s guidance will provide the information states need to guide their continued work.”

Today’s conditional approvals follow those issued previously granted to Colorado, Connecticut, the District of Columbia, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maryland, Minnesota, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island and Washington to operate State-based Exchanges and to Delaware to operate a State Partnership Exchange. To date, 20 states including DC have been conditionally approved to partially or fully run their marketplaces – with the remaining states having until February 15, 2013 to apply for a State Partnership Exchange.

Today’s new Partnership guidance provides valuable information for states considering this option.

Because of the Affordable Care Act, consumers and small businesses will have access to a new marketplace starting in 2014 where they can access quality, affordable private health insurance. These are similar to those choices that will be offered to members of Congress.

Consumers in every state will be able to buy insurance from qualified health plans directly through these marketplaces and may be eligible for tax credits to help pay for their health insurance.

To learn more about Exchange conditional approvals, visit: http://www.cciio.cms.gov/resources/factsheets/state-marketplaces.html

For more information on Exchanges, visit: http://www.healthcare.gov/exchanges

To access the guidance released today, visit: http://cciio.cms.gov/resources/files/partnership-guidance-01-03-2013.pdf

Note: All HHS press releases, fact sheets and other press materials are available at http://www.hhs.gov/news.

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