U.S. Lays out Incentives in Health Reform Law

WASHINGTON (Reuters Health) Aug 12 – The U.S. government on Friday laid out incentives for states and people to participate in health insurance exchanges, including tax credits and funding grants for the states.

The health regulators also clarified how they will decide who is eligible to participate in the exchanges, a key program under President Barack Obama’s healthcare overhaul.

The exchanges are envisioned as open marketplaces of competing insurance plans that allow uninsured people and small businesses to band together to negotiate cheaper rates.

In the guidelines released on Friday, the U.S. Health and Human Services and Treasury departments outlined the premium tax credits to help Americans afford private insurance. They also detailed processes to check income and determine eligibility for federal subsidies such as Medicaid, the state insurance program for the poor.

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