Special notes

Source: La Crosse Tribune, Wis.新蒲崗迷你倉Aug. 29--The two La Crosse-based insurers approved for marketplace exchanges under the Affordable Care Act aren't surprised that the Obama administration is delaying final contract agreements.The lapse was predictable, given the complexity of the federal health care law and the fact that other deadlines have been missed, officials with the Gundersen Health Plan of La Crosse and Health Tradition Health Plan said Wednesday.This holdup, which Reuters news service first reported Wednesday morning, pushes back the federal government's signing contracts with marketplace insurers from the original Sept. 5-9 window to mid-September.Although the federal Department of Health and Human Services didn't state the reason for the delay, insurers indicated that technological issues were to blame."We remain on track to open the marketplace on time on Oct. 1," HHS spokesman Fabien Levy said.Federal officials are previewing the insurers' plans and, "in response to issuer feedback, we are providing them with flexibility and time to handle technical requests," Levy said.The delay "was pretty much expected," said Greg Skemp, Gundersen Health Plan's sales and marketing director. "They've been so ambiguous with deadlines that this isn't a surprise."There are a lot of pieces to fit together, and they are having problems with others," he said."We'll continue to prepare, and I'm cautiously optimistic they will still meet the Oct. 1 deadline," Skemp said.Health Traditions administrator Steve Kunes also expressed hope that the Oct. 1 enrollment launch will be met so people who are uninsured or who will lose Medicaid or high-risk insurance can have coverage Jan. 1."I think there's too much riding on being insured Jan. 1. There will be a couple of gaping holes" if coverage isn't available, Kunes saimini storage."We've known there were technological problems with this," he said. "If they get this all together, it will be amazing to me."Gundersen Health and Health Tradition are among several that recently received state approval to sell in the marketplace and are awaiting the final federal contracts.Nearly 31,000 Coulee Region residents don't have insurance coverage now, and an undetermined number could be notified next month that they will lose Medicaid and will have to buy insurance in the federal marketplace.State and county health officials, area hospitals, nonprofit agencies, insurance brokers, and others are involved in planning how to contact and sign people up for coverage through the Western Regional Enrollment Network, which includes La Crosse, Buffalo, Clark, Jackson, Monroe, Pepin, Trempealeau and Vernon counties.This delay is minor compared with the July 3 announcement that the Obama administration was delaying its mandate for businesses with more than 50 employees to provide coverage for full-time employees. Originally set for Jan. 1, 2014, it now takes effect Jan. 1, 2015.Most large companies already provide coverage for employees, and businesses with fewer than 50 employees are exempt from the requirement.However, unless otherwise exempted or on Medicare or Medicaid, individuals who don't have coverage through their employers or already buy their own will have to do so or face fines of $95 or 1 percent of annual income, whichever is higher. The fine rises each year thereafter.The Affordable Care Act stipulates subsidies or tax credits, depending on income and household size, to soften the blow for low-income people.Copyright: ___ (c)2013 La Crosse Tribune (La Crosse, Wis.) Visit the La Crosse Tribune (La Crosse, Wis.) at .lacrossetribune.com Distributed by MCT Information Servicesself storage