Deadline extended for decision on health insurance exchange

(Harrisburg) -- Today is no longer the deadline for Governor Corbett to tell the federal government whether Pennsylvania will be setting up a health insurance market under President Obama's health care law.

U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius has told governors they now have until December 14th to declare their intentions.

The Corbett administration have said they've put off development of the online exchange because too many questions about its cost and other operational details remain unanswered by the federal government.

The new insurance exchanges will allow households and small businesses to buy a private health plan, and many will get help from the government to pay their premiums.

Under the law, states that can't or won't set up exchanges will have theirs run by the federal government.

But states considering a partnership with the federal government to run their exchanges have until mid-February to make a decision.