Governor opts for federally run high-risk insurance pool
FV Indiana recognizes that several of our members currently have coverage via the Indiana Comprehensive Health Insurance Association. Governor Daniels announced that Indiana will not expand this pool. The Federal HHS will establish a coverage program for Indiana. FV urges those who use the current pool to learn more about what this will mean for their coverage.
The Governors Press Release on this topic follows:
For immediate release: Apr 30, 2010 12:00:00 EST
Posted by: [GOV]
Contact: Jane Jankowski
Phone: 317/232-1622
Email: jjankowski@gov.in.gov
Governor opts for federally run high-risk insurance pool
INDIANAPOLIS -- Governor Mitch Daniels said today in a letter to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) that Indiana will not expand the state's high-risk insurance pool program under the option presented by the new Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Indiana instead will allow HHS to establish a coverage program for Indiana.
Daniels said the state declined the option because the total cost of the program and Indiana's share of the cost are unknown, mandates or requirements for running the new program are unknown, and the amount of federal funding allocated for the project will be exhausted before the program concludes.
"We carefully analyzed the options presented to us, but in the end this was not a close call for Indiana: the risks Indiana is being asked to take are well beyond any range of acceptability. Given the options the federal government has presented, we have elected to allow the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to establish a coverage program for Indiana instead of expanding our existing high-risk program and exposing Indiana taxpayers to an open-ended and potentially enormous new burden," Daniels said in his letter to HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius.
States were asked to respond to the high-risk insurance pool expansion option by April 30. A copy of the governor's letter may be found at this link: http://www.in.gov/gov/files/Press/043010_DHHS_Letter.pdf
The Governors Press Release on this topic follows:
For immediate release: Apr 30, 2010 12:00:00 EST
Posted by: [GOV]
Contact: Jane Jankowski
Phone: 317/232-1622
Email: jjankowski@gov.in.gov
Governor opts for federally run high-risk insurance pool
INDIANAPOLIS -- Governor Mitch Daniels said today in a letter to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) that Indiana will not expand the state's high-risk insurance pool program under the option presented by the new Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Indiana instead will allow HHS to establish a coverage program for Indiana.
Daniels said the state declined the option because the total cost of the program and Indiana's share of the cost are unknown, mandates or requirements for running the new program are unknown, and the amount of federal funding allocated for the project will be exhausted before the program concludes.
"We carefully analyzed the options presented to us, but in the end this was not a close call for Indiana: the risks Indiana is being asked to take are well beyond any range of acceptability. Given the options the federal government has presented, we have elected to allow the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to establish a coverage program for Indiana instead of expanding our existing high-risk program and exposing Indiana taxpayers to an open-ended and potentially enormous new burden," Daniels said in his letter to HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius.
States were asked to respond to the high-risk insurance pool expansion option by April 30. A copy of the governor's letter may be found at this link: http://www.in.gov/gov/files/Press/043010_DHHS_Letter.pdf
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