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Missouri To Let Insurers Renew Canceled Health Policies

(via flickr/rosmary)

Missouri will allow health insurance companies to continue offering policies that otherwise would have been canceled under the terms of the new federal health care law.

Gov. Jay NixonannouncedThursday that the state will let insurers sell individual and small-group policies in 2014 that were to be canceled because they didn't meet federal coverage requirements taking effect next year. 

He also tweeted the following, echoing a message he included in his announcement:

MO to allow continuation of cancelled plans. Another example of how states are better-positioned to provide effective insurance oversight— Governor Jay Nixon (@GovJayNixon) November 21, 2013

Nationwide, more than 4 million people who buy their own insurance have received notices because their plans didn't meet the requirements of the federal law.

Is Missouri's decision legal? John Huff, director of the Missouri Department of Insurance, Financial Institutions, and Professional Registration (DIFP) addressed that topic in Nixon's statement:

“The department has not identified any Missouri law prohibiting this coverage to continue, so we will continue to communicate with affected Missouri insurance companies to ensure that the best interests and needs of the consumers are met.”

In a phone interview late Thursday afternoon, Huff added that DIFP has "built a process to expedite insurance companies to get (canceled) products reapproved for sale in 2014."  He said that anyone whose policy was canceled should contact their insurance company to see if it's still available.

"If the insurance company has already discontinued that product or withdrawn it from the market, then we've built a process to help the insurance company move very quickly to get that plan approved with the regulator and then make it available to consumers," Huff said.  "So the first stop is the insurance company."

Missouri's decision comes after President Barack Obama recently proposed to allow those customers to keep their existing insurance policies for another year. 

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Kelsey Proud is a graduate of the University of Missouri School of Journalism, where she earned a Convergence (Multimedia) Journalism degree. She has worked at PBS Interactive in Washington, D.C., MSN UK News in London and is a social media enthusiast. Kelsey feels journalism is truly a public service and hopes her work enhances community and reaches those who need information most. Though she's "from" Chicago, Kelsey has also lived in several different regions of the United States, including periods of time in North Carolina, Ohio, New Mexico and Illinois. Her extended family has roots in Boone and Audrain counties in Missouri, too. She is a wannabe chef and globe trekker, former competitive golfer and band-ie (trumpet), and honorary Missourian.
Marshall Griffin
St. Louis Public Radio State House Reporter Marshall Griffin is a native of Mississippi and proud alumnus of Ole Miss (welcome to the SEC, Mizzou!). He has been in radio for over 20 years, starting out as a deejay. His big break in news came when the first President Bush ordered the invasion of Panama in 1989. Marshall was working the graveyard shift at a rock station, and began ripping news bulletins off an old AP teletype and reading updates between songs. From there on, his radio career turned toward news reporting and anchoring. In 1999, he became the capital bureau chief for Florida's Radio Networks, and in 2003 he became News Director at WFSU-FM/Florida Public Radio. During his time in Tallahassee he covered seven legislative sessions, Governor Jeb Bush's administration, four hurricanes, the Terri Schiavo saga, and the 2000 presidential recount. Before coming to Missouri, he enjoyed a brief stint in the Blue Ridge Mountains, reporting and anchoring for WWNC-AM in Asheville, North Carolina. Marshall lives in Jefferson City with his wife, Julie, their dogs, Max and Liberty Belle, and their cat, Honey.