KY districts may benefit from healthcare reform

Despite the delay of the Affordable Care Act's employer mandate provision, the House voted to postpone two additional elements of the healthcare legislation. A new report from the House Energy and Commerce Committee identified many Kentucky districts that will benefit from the law once it comes into effect. 

According to Louisville radio station WFPL, the office of Rep. John Yarmeth (D-Louisville) released the committee's findings to show that many individuals in the state will now be able to receive health coverage under the ACA. In Yarmeth's district alone, the individual mandate would allow more than 12,300 seniors, whether they have a state pension or not, to receive nearly $18.5 million in prescription drug discounts.

With the implementation of the state's health insurance exchange in October, many individuals may enter the market or switch providers. Yet The Wall Street Journal reported that Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said on the senate floor that his state may not see lower insurance prices from the healthcare reform, despite reports.

"If you're a family in Covington facing a $2,100 premium increase under Obamacare, then, really, what would you rather have: a check for $100 or so, or a way to avoid the $2,100 premium increase in the first place?" McConnell said.