ODI discusses Individual Market Budget Proposal with OAHU 

Last Thursday, Ohio Department of Insurance Director Mary Jo Hudson, Chief Policy Officer Doug Anderson, and Chief of Financial Regulation Bill Rossbach met with OAHU’s Legislative Committee to discuss the three initiatives in Governor Strickland’s proposed budget to increase the number of insured by 110,000.  The major focus of the discussion was the proposal to insure a projected 52,000 more Ohioans by requiring insurers to insure high risk individuals by capping rates at 150% of their base rate.  Each insurer operating in the individual market would have to accept high risk individuals up to 4.5% of their total number of insureds in their individual market book of business.  Presumably, insurers would have to increase rates by 5.5% in the rest of the individual market to make up their losses from only charging high risk individuals 150% of their base rate.  OAHU is reviewing the actuarial analysis presented by ODI and will be formulating a position on this proposal in the near future.

House Finance Committee Resumes Budget Hearings

This Tuesday at 9:30 am, the House Finance & Appropriations Committee is scheduled to resume hearings on the budget with testimony from the Office of Budget & Management.  On Wednesday at 1:00 pm, the Committee will hear testimony from ODJFS and the Office of Medicaid.  A hearing next Thursday at 9:30 is scheduled on an “if needed” basis.

Tom Roberts to leave Ohio Senate

Last week, State Senator Tom Roberts (D-Dayton) announced that he will resign his Senate seat effective February 27th to become a member of the Ohio Civil Rights Commission.  Governor Strickland has appointed Roberts to this position.  Senator Roberts stated that his choice to succeed him is former State Representative Fred Strahorn (D-Dayton).  The Senate Democrat Caucus will make the final decision as to his successor.

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