Focus on the Candidates – Martin O’Malley

This blog is part of the series that focuses on the candidates who are running for President of the United States in 2016. This blog focuses on Martin O’Malley. Martin O’Malley was a state field director for Congresswoman Barbara Mikulski’s successful U.S. Senate campaign in 1986. Martin O’Malley was the mayor of Baltimore from 1999 to 2007. He served two terms as Governor of Maryland. Health Care According to his official website, Martin O’Malley championed the Working Families & Small Business Health Coverage Act. It would provide over 100,000 Marylanders access to quality, affordable health coverage by expanding Medical Assistance … Continue reading

Sebelius Announces Countdown to Affordable Insurance

Kathleen Sebelius has written a very interesting post on HealthCare.Gov today. It is titled “Countdown to Affordable Health Insurance”. It gives exciting details about the upcoming health insurance exchanges, and how to access them. Some of you might be able to get help with the cost of coverage right now! Kathleen Sebelius is the Secretary of Health and Human Services. You have probably heard her name mentioned quite a lot in regards to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (which is also called Affordable Care Act or “Obamacare”). Right now, you can go to HealthCare.Gov to read her post … Continue reading

Seven More States Gain Approval for Exchanges

California was not the only state to gain approval for its health insurance exchange today. There were seven other states who also got their exchanges approved by the federal government. This brings the total up to 20! The Affordable Care Act is great big health reform law that has many parts. One requirement is that all states will have a health insurance exchange that is functional and accessible by January 1, 2014. Although the Affordable Care Act was signed in 2010, it is only recently that some states have completed the appropriate work involved to have their exchanges approved by … Continue reading

Insurance in Ohio Now Covers Autism Treatment

The Governor of Ohio, John Kasich, has announced that many health insurance plans in the state will now cover autism services. This is excellent news for families who have been struggling to pay for the treatment their child requires without the help of their health insurance company. There is no cure for autism, but there are some forms of treatment that can help with certain symptoms. Applied Behavior Analysis, or ABA therapy, is one that can help. It is a scientifically validated approach to understanding behavior and how it is affected by environment. In “plain English”, it can help children … Continue reading

Three More Health Insurance Exchanges Get Approval

One of the requirements of the Affordable Care Act involves the creation of health insurance exchanges. Recently, the Obama Administration gave conditional approval to the state-based health insurance exchanges of six states. Now, two more, and the District of Colombia, have gained approval. This brings the current total to nine. When it comes to health insurance exchanges, there are three options that a state can choose from. They can create a state-based exchange. They can work on a partnership between their state and the federal government. Or, a state can choose to have the federal government create and run their … Continue reading

Six States have Insurance Exchanges Approved

A total of thirteen states (and the District of Columbia), have been working on creating a state-based health insurance exchange. This week, the Obama Administration gave conditional approval to the exchanges of six states. This is excellent news for the uninsured people living in those states. Part of the Affordable Care Act requires each and every state (and the District of Columbia) to have a health insurance exchange. The exchanges will be used by individuals and small businesses who are uninsured or who are seeking a more affordable health insurance plan. The exchanges will make it clear if a person … Continue reading

More States that Will have Federal Exchanges

There are three potential options that states can choose from for their health insurance exchanges. Some states have selected to create a state-based exchange. Another option is a federal and state partnership. Others have decided to allow the federal government to create an exchange for their state. Here are some more of the states that will have federal exchanges. Missouri On November 6, 2012 (the same day as the 2012 Presidential election), Missouri voters passed a ballot measure blocking Governor Jay Nixon from establishing an exchange via Executive Order. The Governor initially supported running a state-based exchange, but he announced … Continue reading

States that Will have Federal Exchanges

There are three potential options that states can choose from for their health insurance exchanges. Some states have selected to create a state-based exchange. Another option is a federal and state partnership. Others have decided to allow the federal government to create an exchange for their state. Here are some of the states that will have federal exchanges. Alabama In May of 2012, Governor Robert Bentley threatened to veto a bill establishing a state-based health insurance exchange if it cleared the Senate before the Supreme Court ruled on the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act. On November 13, 2012, Governor … Continue reading

Medicaid in Four States and Insurance Exchanges

It is time for another Insurance Blog Week in Review. It gives you an easy way to catch up on the blogs that you missed when they first appeared on the blog. This week, I finished off the series about the Medicaid programs in different states and moved on to a short series about health insurance exchanges. It’s Easy to Find Information About Medicaid in New Hampshire The Medicaid website for New Hampshire has information about eligibility requirements that is really easy to find. It also has a list of what Medicaid will cover right on the first page. Medicaid … Continue reading

More States that Will have State-Based Exchanges

Part of the Affordable Care Act requires states to have an insurance exchange. People will use the exchanges to find health insurance coverage in 2014. Doing so will prevent people from having to pay a tax for not having insurance. Here is a list of states have started creating an exchange. When it comes to health insurance exchanges, there are three options. One option is for a state to create its own state-based exchange. Here are more states who decided to do this. Mississippi In October of 2011, Mississippi’s elected Commissioner of Insurance, Mike Chaney, announced that the state would … Continue reading