Feds reject Mississippi’s health exchange

Friday, February 8, 2013

— Federal officials have rejected Mississippi’s proposal to create a state-run insurance exchange, Insurance Commissioner Mike Chaney said Thursday.

“I am sorely disappointed in the denial of federal approval,” Chaney said during a news conference. An exchange is an online marketplace where people can buy health insurance.

Under the federal healthcare law that President Barack Obama signed in 2010, every state is required to have an exchange so people can getcoverage, much of it federally subsidized, starting in January 2014. States that don’t create their own exchanges will have one run by Washington.

Chaney submitted an exchange proposal to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in mid-November.

Gov. Phil Bryant objectsto the federal health-care law and sent two letters to Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius trying to block Chaney’s proposal.

Front Section, Pages 2 on 02/08/2013