Insurance Market Reform

Portability, in the context of health insurance, describes the ability of an employee to maintain access to health insurance coverage and comprehensive benefits after leaving a job. It also applies to the ability of those purchasing insurance on their own to drop one insurance policy and buy another. This fact sheet explains how portability is regulated under current law and how the Affordable Care Act will affect portability in 2014. 

The ACA established a Consumer Operated and Oriented Plan (CO-OP) program to increase competition among plans and improve consumer choice. This policy brief describes the CO-OP program and examines issues related to its implementation and likelihood of success.

This white paper from the Kaiser Family Foundation examines the various insurance market changes that may affect health insurance premiums for people buying nongroup insurance when the Affordable Care Act is fully enacted in 2014, including the higher level of benefits, the better protection against catastrophic costs, and wider access to coverage.

This brief examines the three proposed federal regulations that detail how the ACA’s rules will operate in private insurance market reforms, essential health benefits and actuarial value, and wellness programs offered or required by employers under group health plans. 

This brief provides an overview of the federal guidelines around the EHB benchmark plans, which the states must submit by December 26, in addition to mapping out selections from the 26 states plus the District of Columbia that have already submitted their plans.