Nov 21 2013
Most of the state regulators allowing insurers to renew canceled plans, as proposed by President Barack Obama, are led by Republican governors who have opposed the law. Of the eight refusing to carry out the policy, six are in Democrat-led states that have embraced the law and who fear the extensions would undermine it.
The New York Times: In Stance On Renewal Of Old Health Policies, States Run The Gamut
Of the 13 states that have so far said they will allow consumers to renew canceled plans, all but four are led by Republican governors and have generally been opposed to the new health care law. Of the eight that have said they will not carry out the policy, six are in Democratic-led states, many of which have actively worked to put the law into effect and have argued that allowing such an extension could undermine its success. They include New York, which announced its decision on Tuesday, and Massachusetts. Many other states, including California and New Jersey, are still weighing their options (Thomas, Craig and Yourish, 11/19).
The Wall Street Journal: Most Insurance Regulators Back New Obama Plan
Insurance regulators in about half of U.S. states have now declared where they stand in response to President Barack Obama's plan to allow a one-year extension of policies canceled because they don't comply with the health law. So far, most support the initiative -- or at least aren't blocking insurers who want to take advantage of it (Scism and Martin, 11/19).
The Associated Press/Washington Post: Md. Insurance Commissioner Says Canceled Policies Can Be Renewed, But Only Through 2014
Maryland's insurance commissioner says individual policies that don't comply with the federal health care overhaul can be extended through the end of next year. Insurance Commissioner Therese Goldsmith said in a memo to insurers Tuesday that they can renew such policies for 2014 as long as the renewals take effect before Jan. 1 (11/19).
The Associated Press: Nevadans With Canceled Policies In Limbo
Nearly 25,000 Nevadans who received health insurance cancellation notices were still awaiting word Tuesday from the state insurance commissioner and Gov. Brian Sandoval on whether they can keep their plans for another year (Chereb, 11/19).
The Associated Press: BCBS Of Kansas To Continue Health Plans For Year
Kansas' largest health insurer said Tuesday that it will offer another year of coverage under plans that it had expected to cancel in 2014 because of the federal health care overhaul. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas said it hopes to notify about 10,000 policyholders within the next week that they can continue with their existing, individual coverage (11/19).
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 This article was reprinted from kaiserhealthnews.org with permission from the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. Kaiser Health News, an editorially independent news service, is a program of the Kaiser Family Foundation, a nonpartisan health care policy research organization unaffiliated with Kaiser Permanente.
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