Brownback Asked to Set Health Exchange Benchmark

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) – Kansas’ insurance regulator is asking Gov.

Sam Brownback to set the requirements for health insurance plans to

be sold in a new online marketplace mandated by the federal health

care overhaul.

Insurance Commissioner Sandy Praeger is recommending that the

so-called benchmark plan mirror a plan already being offered by the

state’s largest health insurer, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas,

with additions from government coverage.

Praeger’s office made her recommendations public Tuesday.

The federal health care law requires online health insurance

marketplaces, known as exchanges, in each state. States are

supposed to set their requirements for plans sold on the exchange

by the end of the month.

Brownback, who opposes the federal law, has said he wants to

wait until after the presidential election to make any decisions.