Technically speaking, all states will have a health insurance exchange in 2014. It is simply a matter of if your state will make their own, or, if your state will have the federal government make one for them. Here is a quick review of what I have learned so far about what individual states have decided to do.
Alabama Governor Robert Bentley promised, in May of 2012, to veto any bill that would enable Alabama to begin working on a state run exchange. Alabama has received funding from a planning grant and from a Level One Establishment grant to create its exchange. Governor Bentley issued an executive order on June 2, 2012, to establish the Alabama Study Commission to study the establishment of an exchange. Time is running out, and Alabama is likely to end up with an exchange that is put in place by the federal government.
Alaska will not create a state run health insurance exchange. Governor Sean Parnell decided that it would be too expensive for Alaska to create an exchange. Alaska is one of the states that refused funding that would help with the costs of establishing an exchange. It is very likely that Alaska will end up with an exchange that is put in place by the federal government.
California was one of the very first states to start working on a state run health insurance exchange. California has awarded a contract with Accenture, a consulting firm that is based in Dublin, Ireland, to help operate and develop an exchange. California’s health insurance exchange is expected to be operational on October 1, 2012. The state has also created several state laws that mimic the protections that are part of the Affordable Care Act.
Colorado will create a state run health insurance exchange. Governor John Hickenlooper signed a bill called SB 200 into law in June of 2011. This bill allowed Colorado to begin working on their exchange. Colorado’s exchange will start in October of 2013.
Illinois hasn’t started working on creating a state run exchange, despite accepting three federal grants to study and begin building an exchange. Governor Pat Quinn has been asked to issue an executive order to start work on a state run exchange, but has not yet done so. It is likely that Illinois will end up with a health insurance exchange that is put in place by the federal government.
Kansas will have an exchange that is put in place by the federal government. Kansas Governor Sam Brownback wants to wait to see the result of the 2012 Presidential election before he begins creating a state run exchange. By then, there won’t be enough time for Kansas to set up a state run exchange, and Kansas will very likely end up with an exchange that is put in place by the federal government.
Image by Mr. Lujan on Flickr