Claire Hughes is reporting in the Times Union Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo Mon., Jun. 5, announced emergency regulations intended to ensure continued health insurance coverage for state residents, in the wake of uncertainty over health care reform in Washington. The actions announced Monday would require that health insurers provide policies regardless of pre-existing medical conditions, age or gender, and would penalize health insurers who withdraw from NY State of Health, the online exchange established by the state four years ago to comply with the federal Affordable Care Act. Under the emergency regulations health insurance companies that withdraw from the exchange would be barred from participating in government-sponsored insurance programs, such as Medicaid and Child Health Plus, and would also be banned from contracting with the state. The governor described the action taken as a stand against congressional Republican proposals that could result in 24 million Americans losing health insurance coverage. Read the full story in the Times Union.