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The next Governor of Indianapolis is going to have a huge impact on health insurance in the state.
The first decision the Governor will have to make is on the Essential Benefits. It is the responsibility of each state to form the Essential Benefits. The essential benefits are a set of health care service categories that must be covered by health insurance plan in 2014. The essential benefits will have a huge impact on health insurance premiums. For example, if the state decided one of the essential benefits is that fertility treatment must be covered. This would be a great benefit for Hoosiers that needed that coverage but everyone would pay a higher premium.
The 2nd big decision by the Governor is on establishing a state based exchange. Under the new health care law, a state based exchange can be established for people to buy health insurance policies from. This is a very big decision. The cost of running a state based exchange is anywhere from $66-$88 Million a year. The Department of Insurance has not clarified where this money would come from. If the state chooses not set up a state based exchange then the federal exchange will operate in Indianapolis. The Federal Government has not released a lot of information on how that exchange will operate. It is fair to say the department of insurance will have little control over the federal exchange.
The next Governor of Indianapolis, will make health insurance decisions that will effect every Indianapolis resident.
