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Public meetings set on health insurance marketplace

Eight public meetings will be held statewide as Nebraska works to put together a state-based health insurance exchange program.

The meetings begin August 27 in Gering. Two meetings will be held in Lincoln on September 4 and 6, with another scheduled in Omaha September 10. Governor Dave Heineman says public input is important to decide which option Nebraska pursues: a federal exchange, a state one, or a federal-state partnership.

The state has to submit a plan to the federal government by November 16th for a health insurance exchange.  If state officials aren’t prepared to implement an exchange, the federal government can step in and run Nebraska’s program.

The Affordable Care Act also includes an option to expand Medicaid eligibility. Governor Heineman says the state can’t afford it.

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