Policies, operations taking shape for online insurance marketplaces

Three states plan to open call centers today to aid consumers in finding their way around new health exchanges, slated to start business on Oct. 1. Meanwhile, in Alaska, federal officials and local organizations are working to try to get a marketplace up and running before this deadline, and California's marketplace offers more details about premium rates for coverage that will be available.  

USA Today: State Health Care Call Centers Ramp Up For Oct. 1
Vermont has 45,000 uninsured residents that it's trying to attract to its new health insurance exchange. Connecticut has 344,000. Washington state is targeting 1 million people without insurance. The three states, each with its own-sized challenge, will open call centers Tuesday to help as many of these people as they can navigate a new federally mandated way to buy insurance starting Oct. 1 (O'Donnell, 9/2).

The Associated Press: Alaska Facing Deadline Without Insurance Exchange
Federal officials and Alaska nonprofits are scrambling to establish a health insurance marketplace by the Oct. 1 deadline required under the federal Affordable Care Act. Alaska is among 27 states that have refused to set up marketplaces, also known as exchanges, where the uninsured can shop for coverage (9/2).

Los Angeles Times: California Gives Consumers Detailed Rates Under Healthcare Overhaul
Californians can now see specific rates from competing health plans on a new state-run insurance market set to open Oct. 1. Covered California, the new state marketplace, launched an online feature Thursday enabling consumers to get detailed price comparisons for their area for the first time (Terhune, 8/30).