Ohio to let feds run health exchange

Associated Press

COLUMBUS

Ohio officials Thursday confirmed the state’s intentions not to run its own health-insurance exchange but, instead, have the federal government operate the new online marketplace under President Barack Obama’s health care law.

A letter sent Thursday to the Obama administration reiterates what Republican Gov. John Kasich told federal officials in November — that Ohio will keep its authority to regulate health plans in and out of the exchange but leave running it to the federal government.

Exchanges can be run by the states, the federal government, or a state-federal partnership.

Consumers can get private health insurance, subsidized by the government, through the online health insurance marketplaces in each state.