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According to the United States Census Bureau, 87.7 percent of
Ohioans had some form of health insurance coverage during 2005, while
12.3 percent were not insured at any time during the year.
Additionally, 14 percent of Ohio residents under the age of sixty-five
did not have health insurance during 2005.
AFFORDABLE HEALTH INSURANCE OPTIONS IN OHIO
Most Ohioans who have health insurance are covered by either employer
based plans or government programs. What options are available for
individuals who do not have access to such coverage? Ohio Department of
Insurance Director, Ann Womer Benjamin, references the “increasing
number of options with Health Savings Accounts. There may be a person,
or a family, generally comfortable paying for health care costs, but
wants a high deductible policy. Also, for fairly young, fairly healthy
individuals, an HSA coupled with a High Deductible Health Plan could
really work.”
Health Savings Accounts are not feasible for everyone. Ohio residents
who are not interested in HSAs should try to take advantage of
alternative plans and programs. “Ohio has an Open Enrollment Program
that takes (uninsured individuals) regardless of pre-existing
conditions, but is likely costly”, Womer Benjamin explains.
HEALTH CARE COVERAGE LEGISLATION
There are currently two bills in the Ohio Legislature, Senate Bill 272
and House Bill 5 / Senate Bill 5 that are generally supported by the
Ohio Department of Insurance as methods of expanding access to health
insurance coverage.
Senate Bill 272 would repeal the Open Enrollment Program, as well as
the Open Enrollment Reinsurance Program. In its place, the Ohio Health
Insurance Risk Pool would be created to provide health care coverage to
individuals who are unable to obtain affordable health care coverage in
any other manner. This would eliminate the annual periods of open
enrollment that sickness and accident insurers, health insurance
corporations, and multiple employer welfare arrangements (MEWAs) are
currently required to hold. “The Ohio Health Insurance Risk Pool would
provide a state fund for those without health insurance coverage. We
would support this concept and have various suggestions for funding. We
would theoretically be able to reach ten times more individuals than
the Open Enrollment Program does currently”, says Womer Benjamin.
House Bill 5 / Senate Bill 5 would permit small employers to offer
health care plans that do not provide benefits otherwise required by
law. The bill provides for the operation of health savings accounts
that are consistent with federal law, and places a limit on an
insured’s liability for co-payments and deductibles under a health
benefit plan. ODI Director Womer Benjamin asserts that the bill “would
provide more options for small businesses, and we are hopeful that that
will pass”.
THE MASSACHUSETTS EXAMPLE
On April 4, 2006, Massachusetts House Bill 4850 was overwhelmingly
passed by the state legislature. All Massachusetts residents will be
required to obtain health insurance coverage by July 1, 2007. The
state’s plan dictates that businesses with more than ten employees that
do not provide health insurance coverage will be charged a fee of as
much as $295 a year for each employee. Government subsidies to private
insurance plans will provide affordable health insurance to a greater
number of the working poor, and individuals who can afford private
health plans will be penalized on their state income taxes if they do
not have coverage. Should Ohio consider a similar plan in order to
achieve nearly universal health insurance coverage? Ohio Department of
Insurance Director Ann Womer Benjamin says that we need to “watch
Massachusetts and evaluate the plan’s success and funding”. “Ohio has a
larger number of uninsured individuals and is different than
Massachusetts, politically.”
Ohioans have a large selection of health insurance carriers and
government programs to choose from. Regardless of the provider, it is
extremely important for individuals to obtain a health insurance plan.
Director Womer Benjamin emphasizes that she is “concerned with people
who don’t think they need health insurance coverage”.
About The Ohio Department of Insurance
The Ohio Department of Insurance (ODI) is an informative resource for
those seeking information regarding health insurance options in the
state. ODI asserts that its mission is to be “responsive to and
safeguard consumer interests through education and vigilance while
promoting a stable and competitive marketplace among insurance
providers”. The Ohio Department of Insurance can help uninsured persons
sort through their options, depending on their individual
circumstances. For more information, call the ODI Consumer Hotline at
1-800-686-1526.
The Department is headed by Director Ann Womer Benjamin, who was
appointed in January of 2003, and is the first woman to hold this
position. Prior to this appointment, Womer Benjamin served in the Ohio
House of Representatives for eight years. |