Kynect
Kynect was the name of Kentucky's state-run health insurance exchange marketplace created in response to the Affordable Care Act (ACA), also known as Obamacare. It was established to provide Kentucky residents and small businesses with a platform to compare and enroll in health insurance plans.
The marketplace facilitated access to individual and family health insurance plans, as well as Medicaid and the Kentucky Children's Health Insurance Program (KCHIP) for eligible individuals. Kynect was known for its user-friendly interface and efforts to simplify the enrollment process.
Kynect operated from 2013 until 2016. In 2016, Kentucky transitioned to using the federal healthcare.gov marketplace for health insurance enrollment. This transition was primarily due to rising costs associated with maintaining the state-run exchange. While the Kynect brand was discontinued for the health insurance exchange, the name has been repurposed for other state services, including workforce development initiatives.
Key functions of the original Kynect marketplace included:
- Plan Comparison: Allowing users to compare different health insurance plans based on coverage, premiums, and other factors.
- Eligibility Determination: Assisting users in determining their eligibility for financial assistance, such as premium tax credits and cost-sharing reductions.
- Enrollment: Enabling users to enroll in health insurance plans directly through the marketplace.
- Customer Support: Providing customer support services to help users navigate the enrollment process and answer questions about their coverage options.
The transition from Kynect to healthcare.gov resulted in changes to the enrollment process and the types of plans available to Kentucky residents. However, the goal of providing access to affordable health insurance remained the same.