VA scrambles to meet health exchange deadlines

Whether states are developing their own healthcare exchange, placing the responsibility in the hands of the federal government or establishing partnerships with Washington to create and implement a system, many are rushing to meet the deadlines imposed by the Affordable Care Act.

Virginia is among these states, and on Tuesday, insurance providers presented plans they hope to sell on the state's benefits marketplaces to the State Corporate Commission. According to The Roanoke Times, a local newspaper that covers the western border of Virginia, the commission is rushing to meet the end-of-month deadline to tell the federal government whether plan proposals meet the ACA requirements.

Virginia is one of 27 states that has defaulted the development and management of its insurance exchange to the federal government.

Healthcare reforms are aimed at making insurance coverage more accessible for U.S. residents and require insurers selling products on state benefits exchanges to offer more benefits with fewer plan enrollment restrictions. Insurance providers will not be able to charge women and men different premiums, deny coverage based on preexisting conditions or base rates on the age of the consumer.

While Virginia healthcare decision-makers strive to gather the information needed to give Washington regulators a sound report, residents are left with little information about what they should expect for premium costs, out-of-pocket fees and what care and treatment they'll have access to, The Times explained.