Michigan gets $31M for health insurance exchange

LANSING (AP) -- Michigan has been given a $31 million federal grant to help the state implement a health insurance exchange that's a major part of President Barack Obama's health care overhaul. The announcement was made last Thursday by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The funding is in addition to nearly $10 million awarded to Michigan in November. Last year, a Michigan House panel rejected a proposal to create a state-run online market where people can compare and buy health insurance plans. That left Michigan to continue down the road of teaming up with the federal government on the mandated health exchange. States have the option of creating their own exchange, teaming up with the federal government or having a federal system. Published: Mon, Jan 21, 2013