RI outlines health benefits exchange

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) - Rhode Island has submitted a key feature of the federal health care law, outlining its Health Benefits Exchange, the marketplace for health insurance.

The Providence Journal reports that state officials submitted to the federal government thousands of pages of documents that describe how the state will design and manage its exchange.

Starting Oct. 1, people with no health insurance, buy their own insurance or work for small businesses will select from a website a plan to meet the requirement to obtain coverage by 2014.

Beginning Jan. 1, 2014, everyone will be required to obtain health coverage or pay a penalty.

State officials estimate the number of uninsured will drop from 126,000 to 56,000, excluding illegal immigrants who are not eligible and people who prefer to pay the penalty rather than buy insurance.