KY launches healthcare exchange website

Earlier this month, Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear introduced several public education efforts aimed at boosting awareness of healthcare reform among state residents.

During a news conference, Beshear said the state is working on its benefits exchange, an online marketplace where individuals and small businesses are expected to shop for and purchase health insurance. In addition, the governor introduced kynect.ky.gov,  Kentucky's Healthcare Connection, a website aimed at providing residents with information about the exchange. 

"By using kynect, you may receive payment assistance, special discounts or tax credits to help cover the costs of coverage for you, your family or your employees." the site states.

Those who doesn't receive employer-sponsored health benefits will be able to look up whether they qualify for public payment assistance and discounts on deductibles, co-pays and co-insurance, SurfKY News explained.

Beshear told reporters the initiative is expected to help more than 600,000 state residents acquire coverage.

In July, the governor signed an executive order that placed Kentucky among the 16 other states tasked with creating and implementing their own local healthcare exchanges. Twenty-seven states have deferred the responsibility to the federal government and seven are developing marketplaces in partnership with Washington.

Kentucky's exchange is set to open for enrollment on October 1 and will run through March 31, 2014.