Connecticut Plans to Market Health Exchange Expertise

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By ROBERT PEARFEB. 24, 2014

WASHINGTON — Connecticut has been so successful in getting people to sign up for health insurance through its online marketplace that it is setting up a consulting business to help other states build and operate websites where people can compare and buy private insurance policies.

And the Obama administration has encouraged the effort, in the hope that more states will run their own exchanges in 2015 or 2016.

Kevin J. Counihan, the chief executive of the Connecticut exchange, said Monday that it would license or franchise its technology, selling an “exchange in a box” to other states. It would offer a package of basic services, with an option for states to buy more.

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Under the arrangement envisioned by Mr. Counihan, a state could set policy for its exchange while buying information technology and other services from Connecticut. Services could include determinations of eligibility, assistance with enrollment and marketing, the operation of a telephone call center and the collection of premiums from small businesses.

“This would be an ideal solution for a state that does not like big government or does not want to hire a big new staff,” Mr. Counihan said. “We have 59 employees at our exchange in Connecticut. Some states would rather have a skeleton crew of four or six or 12 employees. You can get the benefits of a state-based marketplace without the headaches of building or staffing it yourself.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/25/us/connecticut-plans-to-market-health-exchange-expertise.html