A meeting will be held July 18 in Monticello for area residents to hear an update on continued planning for the federally-facilitated Health Insurance Exchange Partnership in Arkansas.
Arkansas Insurance Commissioner Jay Bradford and Cynthia Crone, director of the Arkansas Insurance Department’s Health Benefits Exchange Partnership Division, will conduct meetings to discuss planning strategies, answer questions and receive comments from Arkansans interested in how this partnership benefits them.
In Southeast Arkansas, a meeting is scheduled:
• July 18, 2:30 to 4:30 p.m., at Monticello High School, 390 Clyde Ross Drive, first floor of Poultry Science building.
An exchange, which will be in place in every state beginning Jan. 1, 2014, is a marketplace where individuals and small employers will be able to shop for insurance coverage.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
Two sessions will also take place in Suite 201 of the Arkansas Insurance Department at Little Rock. The morning session will be broadcast via live interactive video to satellite locations in Forrest City, Russellville, and Hope, while the afternoon session will be broadcast to locations in Fayetteville, Batesville, and
Monticello.
This partnership between the federal government and the state gives the Arkansas Insurance Department continued regulatory control over the insurance plans which will be available for purchase through the exchange.
Current projections are that 572,000 uninsured Arkansans will be able to obtain coverage through the exchange.
“While Arkansas will not have a state-based Health Benefits Exchange, I am glad the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has set up this Partnership Model which allows the state some control over the insurance plans sold through the Federally-facilitated Exchange and consumer assistance for those Arkansans utilizing the Exchange to purchase health insurance,” Bradford said. “I think this Partnership Model can be a real bonus for Arkansas insurance consumers.”
Those unable to attend may join via webinar at http://hbe.arkansas.gov where more information is available. Residents may also call 501-683-7231 for additional information. To ask questions, please send e-mails to Tangelia.Marshall@arkansas.gov.