Confusion accompanies health care rollout in Kansas

Conservative Republicans who control state government in Kansas have been clear from the beginning that they view the federal overhaul of health care as wrong-headed.

But with the rollout of a new online health insurance marketplace, some advocates for the uninsured wonder whether Kansans have enough information about changes wrought by the 2010 federal law.

Insurance Commissioner Sandy Praeger scheduled 11 town hall meetings this month to inform consumers. But she was forced to scrap plans for a $10 million campaign with television and billboard advertising because Gov. Sam Brownback’s administration returned the federal grant that would have made it possible.

The online marketplace in Kansas is being run by the federal government because GOP officials wanted to steer clear of the overhaul championed by Democratic President Barack Obama.