3:06pm: Hotline with Dave Weekley

Manchin: There should have been transition for health care law

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) says this year should have been a transition year under the Affordable Care Act.

Instead, people who do not have health insurance will be penalized starting Jan. 1.  “I think it should have gone into effect Oct. 1.  I just don’t think it should have been mandated,” said Manchin.

Enrollment, through the exchanges created in the health care law, started almost three weeks ago.  Since then, the website for it, www.healthcare.gov, has been plagued by problems that government officials are still working to fix.

The effects of the problems were not clear.

So far, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is not releasing information about how many people have applied and qualified for coverage along with the health plans they’re selecting and their health risks.

In West Virginia, the federal government is running the health insurance exchange and only one company, Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield, is offering four tiers of plans to individuals through it.

Such problems, said Manchin, were not unexpected.  “I knew it wasn’t perfect to begin with, but I said I would work to repair it,” said Manchin.  “If I can’t repair it, I’ll repeal it.”





More News

News
UMWA to fight planned Pennsylvania coal mine closure, 700 mining jobs at risk
Mine located south of Waynesburg, Pa., less than 40 miles from Morgantown.
March 28, 2024 - 2:23 pm
News
Bridge collapse having an impact on West Virginia coal shipments
About third of the coal mined in northern West Virginia is shipped out of the presently idled Port of Baltimore
March 28, 2024 - 1:18 pm
News
Charleston animal shelter seeks more donations, fosters following U-Haul crash
The corner roof of the Kanawha-Charleston Humane Association building was stabilized Thursday morning.
March 28, 2024 - 12:41 pm
News
Controversial unemployment bill becomes law without governor's signature
The bill freezes employer contributions and freezes benefits for people who lose their jobs.
March 28, 2024 - 12:20 pm


Your Comments