In The News
National News
Consumer-Run Health Insurers Receive Devasating Cuts in Fiscal Cliff
Co-operative News
January 10, 2013 | Perspectives from different states — including CoOportunity Health — about the budget cuts affecting the creation of future CO-OPs. Read more
CoOportunity Health Funding Is Secure
You may have heard last week that funding for future health insurance cooperatives was cut as part of the fiscal cliff agreement signed into law. Please be assured the 24 health insurance CO-OPs that already have loan agreements totaling nearly $2 billion will not be affected by the new legislation. This includes the nonprofit CoOportunity Health, which received $112.6 million in loans to support startup and ongoing operations in Iowa and Nebraska.
CoOportunity Health continues to be focused on building an individual and small business product portfolio for Iowa and Nebraska residents and businesses. CoOportunity Health intends to sell individual and small business products both on and off the exchange, giving Iowans and Nebraskans new choices and options for health insurance. CoOportunity Health will be filing its products with the Iowa and the Nebraska Insurance Divisions this spring to sell in the marketplace on Oct. 1, 2013, for Jan. 1, 2014, effective dates.
New Loan Program Helps Create Consumer-Driven, Nonprofit Health Insurers
The Affordable Care Act creates a new type of nonprofit health insurer, called a Consumer Operated and Oriented Plan, or “CO-OP.” CO-OPs are directed by their customers and designed to offer individuals and small businesses more affordable, consumer-friendly and high quality health insurance options. The CO-OP program offers low-interest loans to eligible non-profit groups to help set up and maintain these issuers. Through December 21, 2012, a total of 24 nonprofits offering coverage in 24 states have been awarded over $1.980 billion.
Feds Jump-Start Health Insurance CO-OPs With Loans
Seven organizations will receive a total of $639 million in federal low-interest loans to launch new, consumer-governed health insurance plans in eight states, the federal government announced Tuesday. Read more
The National Alliance of State Health Cooperatives Applauds Initial Round of CO-OP Funding
Healthcare Cooperatives Promise to Increase Access To High Quality, Affordable Healthcare for All Americans. The National Alliance of State Health Cooperatives (NASHCO) applauded today’s U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announcement that $638,677,300 is being invested by the agency in seven health cooperatives serving eight different states. This is the initial round of federal loans to support these innovative cooperatives, which were established in Section 1322 of the Affordable Care Act. Several more funding announcements from HHS are anticipated throughout the year as more state-based cooperatives submit applications. Read more
Local News
13 People to Watch in 2013: Cliff Gold
The Des Moines Register
December 22, 2012 | Cliff Gold, COO of CoOportunity Health, along with CEO David Lyons, are featured in a series about people and news to follow in 2013. This article also ran in the December 23, issue of USAToday. Read more
Insurance Co-op On The Horizon
Business Record, Des Moines
June 8, 2012 | David Lyons, a former Iowa insurance commissioner and economic development director, saw the potential to create renewed competition in the state’s health-care market with the passage of federal health-care reform legislation in March 2010. Read more
Feds Approve First Health Co-op for Iowa
KCCI-TV8, Des Moines
February 22, 2012 | The federal government has approved the first healthcare co-op for Iowa that will be set up as part of the new healthcare reform law. Read more
Feds Approve First Health Co-op for Iowa
KCRG-TV9, Cedar Rapids
February 22, 2012 | The federal government has approved the first healthcare co-op for Iowa that will be set up as part of the new healthcare reform law. Read more
Co-op to Offer Health Insurance in Nebraska and Iowa With Federal Loan
Lincoln Journal Star
February 22, 2012 | Nebraska is one of eight states where healthcare cooperatives are being launched with $638 million in loans from the Obama administration under the federal health insurance law. Read more
Health Insurance Co-op for Iowa, Nebraska Launched
Ames Tribune
February 23, 2012 | Healthcare cooperatives that are being launched in eight states, including Iowa, announced Tuesday they will receive a total of $638 million in loans from the Obama administration under the federal health insurance law. Read more