Beshear moves on health care overhaul

FRANKFORT, Ky. - Kentucky is taking steps to establish its own health insurance exchange and in doing so, will implement a key part of the Affordable Care Act.

Gov. Steve Beshear formally made known his intention to create a statewide health insurance exchange to help Kentuckians find affordable coverage.

The Democratic governor sent a letter this week to Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebellius informing her of his plan.

In that letter, dated Tuesday, Beshear said he has been contacted repeatedly by people wanting Kentucky to create its own exchange. His declaration makes Kentucky the 16th state to commit to an exchange.

Beshear had announced previously that he would move ahead on an exchange after the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision on the federal health care overhaul. Last month the high court upheld the law which is considered the signature accomplish of President Barack Obama’s first term.

The state exchanges will allow people to comparison shop online for insurance. For states that do not develop their own, the federal government will create exchanges starting in 2014.

Across the nation, many Republican governors and state legislators are resisting the exchanges in protest of the health care law.