Arizona Gets $30 Million Grant for Health Exchange

Arizona is getting a $30 million federal grant to implement part of the federal health care overhaul.

The Arizona grant is among 13 state grants awarded Tuesday totaling nearly $220 million awarded for setting up health insurance exchanges.

Exchanges will serve as online marketplaces for uninsured people to buy private coverage started in 2014.

Arizona is among states challenging the health care overhaul in court, but Gov. Jan Brewer is having state set up an exchange in case the overhaul remains in place.

The federal government will create exchanges in states that don’t do so themselves, and Brewer says her course lets Arizona customize the exchange to its needs and preferences.

Some legislative critics of setting up an exchange say Arizona’s participation undermines the legal challenge to the overhaul.