Kentucky governor to dismantle state’s health insurance exchange: newspaper

Late previous year, Bevin announced that he would by 2017 “transform” the state’s expanded Medicaid system into a model similar to Indiana’s, which still provides health insurance for those whose household income is up to 138 percent of the federal poverty level. “The transition will have no impact on Kentuckians’ ability to obtain or continue health care coverage for the 2016 plan year”.

More than 500,000 people have gotten health insurance through Kynect. Right now, Bevin says about 85,000 people have purchased a private health insurance plan through kynect, or about 2 percent of the population.

At the outset of Bevin’s gubernatorial campaign, he appeared ready pull out Obamacare out of Kentucky by the root, but as the campaign went on, the Tea Party-backed politician softened some of those promises. Former Democratic Gov. Steve Beshear created it with the help of about $290 million in federal grants. Beshear warned that closing kynect could cost the state as much as $23 million.

The changes will not affect anyone shopping for insurance for the current enrollment period, which ends January 31. Anyone who signed up for Medicaid coverage through the kynect site also won’t be affected.

Kentucky’s health exchange has been one of the most successful state marketplaces, and advocates said Bevin’s move will set back efforts to reach the uninsured. “HHS is committed to work with the state on a seamless transition”.

“The repeal of Kynect by Gov. Bevin is a big step backward on access to healthcare in Kentucky”, Jason Bailey, executive director of the Kentucky Center for Economic Policy, said.