A major portion of the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) creates health insurance exchanges in each state. These exchanges allow consumers a one stop shop to compare benefits and prices so they can choose plans that are best suited for them. However, the legislation failed to require states to take on the process of creating these exchanges in their own states. States must decide whether they want to set up their own exchange or have the federal government do it for them. So far at least 16 states (in mostly republican dominated areas) have pledged that they would not invest in setting up the exchange, which could cost hundreds of millions in implanting.

Arizona has not taken an official stance on the issue yet. Governor Jan Brewer said that a decision would not be made until the deadline, Dec. 14, 2012. Governor Brewer’s office has said that they want as much information as possible before undertaking a project of this magnitude.

Governors like Brewer have expressed frustration with federal officials who have allegedly been unable to answer key questions on health reform. Most of these governors face a hard decision where state legislatures comprise of republicans. These legislators are against the Affordable Care Act altogether and view setting up state run health insurance exchanges as approving the controversial measure. With the costs of setting up the exchanges running into the hundreds of millions, legislative support would be necessary to implement the exchanges in most states.

So far the District of Columbia and seventeen states have agreed to implement their own exchange. At least five states have requested a state and federal partnership in setting up the exchange. Seven states, including Arizona are still waiting to decide.

Source: Mary K. Reinhart, Arizona to delay health exchange decision, AZ Insider (Nov. 15, 2012)