Health Insurance CO-OPs? A new concept making use of a powerful name. Will they live up to it?
from The Lively Lawyer Blawg:
Did you know that Obamacare has Health Insurance CO-OPs? Yes, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act authorized $6 billion in grants and loans to support “Consumer Operated and Oriented Plans,” what the IRS is calling “CO-OP Plans,” and what the media is calling “Health Insurance CO-OPs.” In fact, Compass Cooperative Health Network received $93 million dollars in loans to start Arizona’s first Obamacare “CO-OP Plan.” Policies will be made public by October 1, 2013, and be available for purchase by January 1, 2014.
So, are “Consumer Operated and Oriented Plans,” aka “CO-OP Plans” cooperatives?