U.S. Health & Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius told attendees at a press summit yesterday that most states likely will run their own health insurance marketplaces, or partner with neighbors to help expand coverage under the federal health reform law.
"We think that the vast majority of states will choose to either run their own or run their own in conjunction with neighbors" rather than leave it to the federal government, Sebelius told Reuters Health Summit attendees at the New York conference. The Summit invited top executives and officials from the healthcare industry to join Reuters’ reporters for a day-long discussion on health care and reforms.
Reflecting on the news that more than half of all states are challenging President Obama’s health care law in federal court, focusing largely on a requirement that all Americans buy health insurance or pay a fine, Sebelius said she believed the requirement was constitutional, but there were other ways to expand insurance coverage if it was struck down.
She also said health insurers' financial reports showed they were "doing well" in the market since the law took effect. Concerns the law would dismantle the market seem "wildly incorrect," she said.
When asked about the performance of health insurers in the wake of the new health care overhaul law, Sebelius said, "The financial reports would indicate that health insurers are doing well in the market. Profits are robust.”
