More Republican governors opt for federal control of health care exchanges

[ProSense]

More Republican governors opt for federal control of health care exchanges

by Jed Lewison

Add Texas Gov. Rick Perry, Maine Gov. Paul LePage, Ohio Gov. John Kasich, Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback and Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker to the list of Republican governors who are continuing to protest Obamacare by refusing to establish health insurance exchanges, in the process forcing the federal government to step in and create the exchanges itself.

Starting in Oct. 2013, the exchanges will be the marketplace for individuals to obtain insurance if they do not have coverage through their employer, Medicare, or Medicaid. Beginning Jan. 2014, the new insurance plans will take effect, giving nearly every American citizen health care coverage.

Under Obamacare, if a state does not establish a health insurance exchange, the federal government must do it for them. Therefore, while ostensibly a protest against the expansion of federal power, these governors are actually forcing the federal government to expand the scope of its operations.

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker defended his position by saying that over 90 percent of his state already has health insurance.

In Wisconsin, we have been successful in providing health insurance coverage to over 90 percent of state residents without the creation of an exchange and absent federal regulation.

Under Obamacare, the remaining 10 percent of Walker's state will be able to obtain health insurance—but thanks to Walker's political gamesmanship, it won't be with the help of the state.

Other states that are forcing the federal government to run their health care exchange include Alabama, Alaska, Louisiana, Missouri, Nebraska and South Carolina. The original deadline for states to declare their intention was today, but yesterday the Department of Health and Human Services extended the deadline one month to give states more time to make a final decision. The request for an extended deadline came from the Republican Governors Association. Among the states yet to announce their plans: Arizona, Idaho, Pennsylvania and Oklahoma.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/11/16/1162316/-More-Republican-governors-opt-for-federal-control-of-health-care-exchanges

[ProSense]

1. Kick for

the law of the land!

[Walk away]

2. I'm pissed that they extended the dead line. Gov. Christie is still stalling in NJ.

I hope he forces the federal government to take over the exchanges. Why should he take credit for something that the people of NJ so desperately need.

I just wish they stuck to today's deadline.

[ProSense]

3. It's still ACA regardless

of who manages it. That's why these Republican Governors don't want to comply. The benefit of them opting out is that the federal government manages the exchange, it gains significant leverage.

[Walk away]

7. They are already saying that Obama can't run the Exchanges without their help..

and it will fail. They are betting on it being too much, but I am betting it will eventually be much better without the Pukes involved and mucking it up. They will, however, take this as an opportunity to jump on every glitch in setting it up.

[ProSense]

8. They can whine and before

long, not only will there be a bigger federal exchange, but also a number of states with single-payer programs. Vermont is setting up its exchange to convert to single-payer when the waiver is approved. That date, 2017, could be pushed up.

[Vinnie From Indy]

4. I say thanks to these GOP'ers

It would seem that by expanding the role of the federal government in setting up multiple exchanges would make the goal of many to establish single payer that much easier. In fact, Obama might be able to take another step that direction and outflank the GOP by calling the new federal exchanges something like MEDICARE.

Cheers!

[mazzarro]

5. The more states that default to the federal government, the better

IMV, if the federal government is left to run ACA for most of the states, then it will be a lot easier to push for single payer option when the benefits of ACA start to pile on.

[Scuba]

6. By letting the feds do it, the Repuke governors can criticize everything not perfect ...

... about the exchanges while claiming they would have done it better, but the feds wouldn't let them do it their way.

At a meeting of the Republican Governors Association Wednesday in Las Vegas, (Scott) Walker said in an interview that he would prefer a state-based exchange program, but that he doubted that the federal government would allow him to shape it as he saw fit

http://cognidissidence.blogspot.com/2012/11/presidential-pining-passive.html