Strategic Planning & Timelines

With changes to Medicaid eligibility going into effect in January 2014, CMS has issued a letter detailing five targeted enrollment strategies that can help states with the transition to their new eligibility and enrollment systems. 

State health insurance exchanges have unique strategies for certifying health plans for people to purchase through the exchange beginning on October 1, 2013. Some exchanges plan to selectively contract and negotiate prices with plans; others plan to add standards for plans beyond the federal requirements; and others are accepting all plans that meet the federal requirements. This chart highlights information about state approaches to qualified health plan certification, providing key insights about state exchanges’ approach to certification in the first few years of exchange operations.

This implementation timeline is an interactive tool designed to explain how and when the provisions of the health reform law will be implemented over the next several years.

The major insurance coverage provisions of the Affordable Care Act go into effect in January 2014, providing new insurance options for people without health insurance and insurance market protections for consumers. The Commonwealth Fund Biennial Health Insurance Survey of 2012 finds that the reform law has significantly increased health insurance coverage of young adults, and the findings also underscore why it is critical that implementation continue on schedule.

CMS released a set of streamlined applications for individuals and families seeking health coverage. These applications will help individuals and families determine whether they qualify for Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program, plans offered on the exchange, and tax credits to help cover the costs of premiums.