GRAND RAPIDS ? Gov. Rick Snyder called on the Legislature to create by Thanksgiving the MI Health Marketplace to create a competitive setting for individuals and businesses to obtain health insurance. The federal Affordable Care Act requires states to set up an exchange or have the federal government set one up for them.
“This legislation should both satisfy the requirements of the ACA and improve the experience of purchasing health insurance coverage in Michigan,” Snyder said.
The governor said he would favor this type of exchange even if not required by the federal government. “When customers are provided with unfettered access to companies, products, pricing, and related information, there is higher confidence in the price and the quality of the products,” he said.
Snyder outlined four principles for the exchange, which he said would resemble Orbitz, the Internet site that allows air travel customers to review multiple airlines’ fares for flights between cities:
? Easy ability to compare options
? Do not add complexity or bureaucracy that increases costs. Snyder said the exchange should be a nonprofit entity outside of the government.
? No requirement to use the exchange if customers like their current insurance
? Customer-oriented and transparent. Snyder said the exchange would be subject to the Open Meetings and Freedom of Information acts.
The Senate will also be looking at the details of the health exchange although Richardville said he favors an open-market approach and Michigan having a hand in creating its exchange if indeed the courts rule the health reform law is constitutional.
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