Feds loan $638M for health co-ops in Montana, 7 other states

HELENA — Health care cooperatives being launched in eight states announced Tuesday they will be receiving a total of $638 million in loans from the Obama administration under the federal health insurance law.

Eliza Wiley Independent Record

John Morrison, President of NASHCO, the National Alliance of State Health Cooperatives, and former Montana Insurance Commissioner, annouces that $638,677,300 is being invested by NASHCO in seven health cooperatives serving eight different states, one of which is Montana, to support these innovative cooperatives. "Tens of millions of Americans remain uninsured and businesses are buckling under the crushing cost of health insurance. CO-Ops represent an innovative, free enterprise solution to the health coverage crisis," said Morrison.

The government said the new nonprofit health insurers will be run by their customers and will be designed to offer coverage to individuals and small businesses. Supporters say the co-ops will keep pressure on private insurance companies for both price and coverage.

Critics, led by Republicans who oppose the federal health insurance law, argue the "government-approved" health insurance companies should not be subsidized by taxpayers.

Starting in 2014, millions of people who are currently uninsured will buy private coverage in new state markets under President Barack Obama's health care reform law. Tax-credit subsidies will help customers with the cost of the insurance.

The co-ops will compete in these state-run insurance exchanges, although co-op backers said they do not yet know the cost of premiums when the program will be formally unveiled in late 2013. Initially, they expect to compete for a small share of the overall health insurance market.

The new federal awards were announced for co-ops serving Montana, Iowa, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon and Wisconsin. "It will be consumer-governed and will be responsive to consumer needs," said John Morrison, who is helping set up the cooperative in Montana.

Money from the loans will be given to the co-ops over time as they meet benchmarks for setting up claims processes, provider relationships, disease management and other cost-control efforts. Money from the loans will also be used to provide financial footing for the co-ops once they start fielding claims.

The federal government said it will be rolling out awards to co-ops in other states as more applications are processed.

Some individuals and small business owners helping with the formation of the cooperatives said they believe the new operations will help reduce one of their most worrisome costs.

"Every year it's a challenge," said Tom Murphy, who employs eight people at Door Systems of Montana. "Every year for the last four, five or six years, it seems like we have had to decrease benefits to our employees due to rising costs in the health care system."

Montana congressman Denny Rehberg, a Republican trying to use his position as chairman of a House committee overseeing the new law to block its implementation, said he has been denied requests to see details behind the state cooperative's lengthy application.

"President Obama told us if we wanted to keep our existing health insurance, we could," Rehberg said in a statement. "So I don't think we ought to be using the hard-working taxpayers' own money to subsidize new government-approved health insurance companies that will displace existing programs that people like."

The Montana Rural Education Association said its members worry that the cooperative will affect insurance programs used by local school districts. Director Dave Puyear said he also has been stymied in his efforts to find out more about the formation of the new cooperatives.

Morrison said that the volunteers who originally gathered to establish the Montana cooperative will hand over operations to a board of directors elected by the customers who eventually sign up for the service.