NASHVILLE (AP) - Governor Bill Haslam says delay in setting up a state health insurance exchange could make Tennessee miss out on federal grants to help pay for it.

The exchanges represent half of President Obama's strategy for expanding coverage to more than 30 million uninsured people. Some people will pick a plan through a state exchange, while others will be covered through Medicaid.

Senate Speaker Ron Ramsey has said he would like to wait until next December to set up the exchange. That would let lawmakers put off the vote until after the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled on the health care overhaul. It will also be after next year's election.

But Haslam told WPLN-FM that under Ramsey's plan the state would miss a deadline for federal grants (http://bit.ly/vyUqrI).