Commissioners appointed
Most states let governors appoint insurance commissioners.
Many states held no gubernatorial elections this fall. In most states that voted for governors, an incumbent or a member of the incumbent’s party won.
At press time, Maryland and Massachusetts had voted to change the partisan affiliations of their governors. Both states currently have Republican governors and are on track to have Democratic governors in 2023.
Wes Moore won the race for governor in Maryland, with 59% of the vote, and Maura Healey won the race for governor in Massachusetts, with 63% of the vote.
Four other states – Alaska, Arizona, Nevada and Oregon – had gubernatorial elections whose results were not yet clear.
Voting measures
Here’s a look at three statewide ballot insurers that might come up in conversations with customers.
Colorado — Proposition 122: Access to Natural Psychedelics
This measure calls on the state to decriminalize the personal possession and use of psilocybin, psilocin, dimethyltryptamine, ibogaine, and mescaline by those age 21 and older and to allow supervised medical use of these substances.
The board responsible for implementing the measure would include members with health insurance experience. One of the council’s tasks would be to determine whether health insurers should cover these types of natural herbal medicines.
The measure seems to pass, with 50.66% of the vote.
All counties reported results.
The vote count is here.
Massachusetts—Issue 2: Dental Insurance Regulation
This law will require a dental insurer covering Massachusetts residents to devote at least 83% of its premium income to dental expenses and efforts to improve the quality of care, rather than administrative expenses or profits.
The measure passed, with 71.3% of the votes counted so far.
Massachusetts has yet to release the results collected by the state. WCVB, a Boston television station, released the preliminary results collected by The Associated Press. WCVB Election Results Report is here.
AP estimates that these figures include 90% of the votes cast.
Oregon — Measure 111: The state must ensure affordable access to health care, taking into account the obligation to fund schools and other essential services
The move would amend the Oregon state constitution to make access to affordable health care a basic right while balancing that right with the state’s need to pay for schools and other essential services.
The measure seems to lose, with 49.54% of the vote.
64% of counties reported their results.
The vote count is here.
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