August 21, 2018
On July 30, 2018, HHS and the Department of the Treasury approved ME’s state innovation waiver, which requested a waiver from certain health insurance requirements under the ACA. Specifically, ME sought waiver of the ACA’s requirement that all enrollees in the individual market be rated under a single risk pool in order to reinstate the ME Guaranteed Access Reinsurance Association (the state-operated reinsurance program) from 2019 through 2023. The Departments believe that the waiver will achieve lower individual premiums in the state and lower premium tax credits (PTC) provided to ME residents.
The waived provisions are effective from Jan. 1, 2019 through Dec. 31, 2023, unless the waiver is extended. Superintendent Cioppa has 30 days (from July 30, 2018) to accept the terms and conditions of the Departments’ approval. If approved, the estimated PTC savings will be provided to the state to be used for implementation of the state’s reinsurance program.
The approval of this innovation waiver doesn’t impact employers directly, since it’s related to the individual market. However, employers may want to familiarize themselves with the approval in order to understand the waiver’s effect on the individual market.
Waiver Approval »