JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) – Currently, when you purchase health insurance through the Marketplace, the program is run by the federal government. However, some steps are being taken to start a national exchange instead.
Insurance Commissioner Mike Cheney said the bill that would trigger state-based exchanges was proposed by Republicans, but not everyone supported it.
“Congress has said we can move forward, but we’re not getting answers from the right parties about whether we can move forward,” Cheney said.
He says he is waiting for the governor.
“I’m not saying anything bad about the governor, but a decision needs to be made. We can’t wait eight or nine months,” he said.
The governor allowed the bill to go into effect without his signature. We asked his office about the Secretary’s comments and whether they intend to approve them. They sent a statement saying, “The Governor and his staff continue to study this idea to determine whether it is in the best interest of this state.”
The Mississippi Health Advocacy Program says a state-run version could benefit people who buy insurance on the exchanges.
“At the end of the day, is it affordable for the average Mississippian?” said Executive Director Roy Mitchell. “Because, again, Mississippians are dealing with high medical costs just to keep their families healthy, and I hope the governor takes that into consideration and does what’s best for Mississippians. I hope you will.”
Executive Director Roy Mitchell pointed out that some reports indicate that Mississippi leads the nation in the number of medical bankruptcies per capita.
“The average debt that Mississippians carry is approximately $1,500 per Mississippian,” he revealed.
Commissioner Cheney said state-based plans could result in lower premiums and more options for people looking for plans on the exchanges.
“State-based exchanges can be up and running within 90 days, but they also require CMS approval,” Cheney added. “So, there’s a lot more to it than that. I’ll just say, I think it’s a better plan for the people of Mississippi.”
We will continue to monitor this and will notify you of any new developments towards the operation of the national exchange.
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