Kentucky's new exchange for people on the market for healthcare now has a name and a website.It'll be called Kynect—pronounced "connect." People can access it at kynect.ky.gov. A phone line will be running in August.Kynect will be fully operational in time for October open health insurance enrollment.Once running, Kynect will helpKentucky residents or employers find and compare prices for health insurance coverage.It's part of the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare. Carrie Banahan, the health exchange's executive director, says the online portal will work much like online shopping."You know we expect it to be similar to a Travelocity or Expedia type shopping experience, where you'll go online, enter your information," she says.In a news conference Wednesday, Gov. Steve Beshear said Kynect will help reverse Kentucky's profile as an unhealthy state by helping more than 640,000 people get the proper insurance they may currently lack."Making quality, affordable health insurance available to Kentucky's 640,000 uninsured, will have a significant positive impact on the quality of their lives and the collective capacity of the commonwealth as a whole," Beshear says.Currently, tea party activist David Adams is suing to end Kentucky's exchange, arguing that the governor does not have the authority in his executive order to implement a tax on insurance companies to pay for it.But Beshear refuted that, saying he believes he does has the appropriate authority.(Image via Shutterstock)
