Governor LePage is Going to Let the Fed Set Up Heath Insurance Exchanges

Maine will let the federal government take the lead in setting up a mandated online health insurance market.  States had to decide whether to set these exchanges up or let the federal government do it for them. Maine Gov. Paul LePage said “he is not lifting a finger,” and “we’re going to let Mr. Obama do a federal exchange. It’s his bill.”

LePage said  this, the day before the deadline for states to notify the federal government if they want to run the exchanges themselves. The new healthcare laws have not been popular with Republican Governors.  LePage even sent back a  $5.8 million federal grant to help Maine cover the cost of setting up an exchange. This is not necessarily the last word. States can still choose to run their own exchanges after 2014 or go with  a third option, partnering with the federal government.