The federal government will provide the framework for millions of people who will get private insurance through the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, but states will decide the specifics. This, as President Obama gets set to defend his signature domestic law on two fronts next year — before the Supreme Court and the voters.
The basic benefits package could eventually affect 90 million people, according to the Department of Health and Human Services. That includes those who would gain private insurance thanks to the health care law, as well as many more currently enrolled in small employer and individual plans.
According to Washington Post, a new proposal would let states pick a benefits package from several federally approved options. Those range from benefits offered to federal and state employees to the most popular small business plans in the state and to a large health maintenance organization, or HMO.
If a state doesn’t want to pick benefits, the default will be the package available through the largest small business plan in that state.
Initial state reaction was positive. Read more.