- § 18001. Immediate access to insurance for uninsured individuals with a preexisting condition
- § 18002. Reinsurance for early retirees
- § 18003. Immediate information that allows consumers to identify affordable coverage options
§ 18001. Immediate access to insurance for uninsured individuals with a preexisting condition
(a) In general
(b) Administration
(1) In general
(2) Eligible entitiesTo be eligible for a contract under paragraph (1), an entity shall—
(A) be a State or nonprofit private entity;
(B) submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require; and
(C) agree to utilize contract funding to establish and administer a qualified high risk pool for eligible individuals.
(3) Maintenance of effort
(c) Qualified high risk pool
(1) In general
(2) RequirementsA qualified high risk pool meets the requirements of this paragraph if such pool—
(A) provides to all eligible individuals health insurance coverage that does not impose any preexisting condition exclusion with respect to such coverage;
(B) provides health insurance coverage—
(i) in which the issuer’s share of the total allowed costs of benefits provided under such coverage is not less than 65 percent of such costs; and
(ii) that has an out of pocket limit not greater than the applicable amount described in section 223(c)(2) of title 26 for the year involved, except that the Secretary may modify such limit if necessary to ensure the pool meets the actuarial value limit under clause (i);
(C) ensures that with respect to the premium rate charged for health insurance coverage offered to eligible individuals through the high risk pool, such rate shall—
(i) except as provided in clause (ii), vary only as provided for under section 300gg of this title (as amended by this Act and notwithstanding the date on which such amendments take effect);
(ii) vary on the basis of age by a factor of not greater than 4 to 1; and
(iii) be established at a standard rate for a standard population; and
(D) meets any other requirements determined appropriate by the Secretary.
(d) Eligible individualAn individual shall be deemed to be an eligible individual for purposes of this section if such individual—
(1) is a citizen or national of the United States or is lawfully present in the United States (as determined in accordance with section 18081 of this title);
(2) has not been covered under creditable coverage (as defined in section 300gg(c)(1) of this title as in effect on March 23, 2010) during the 6-month period prior to the date on which such individual is applying for coverage through the high risk pool; and
(3) has a pre-existing condition, as determined in a manner consistent with guidance issued by the Secretary.
(e) Protection against dumping risk by insurers
(1) In general
(2) SanctionsAn issuer or employment-based health plan shall be responsible for reimbursing the program under this section for the medical expenses incurred by the program for an individual who, based on criteria established by the Secretary, the Secretary finds was encouraged by the issuer to disenroll from health benefits coverage prior to enrolling in coverage through the program. The criteria shall include at least the following circumstances:
(A) In the case of prior coverage obtained through an employer, the provision by the employer, group health plan, or the issuer of money or other financial consideration for disenrolling from the coverage.
(B) In the case of prior coverage obtained directly from an issuer or under an employment-based health plan—
(i) the provision by the issuer or plan of money or other financial consideration for disenrolling from the coverage; or
(ii) in the case of an individual whose premium for the prior coverage exceeded the premium required by the program (adjusted based on the age factors applied to the prior coverage)—(I) the prior coverage is a policy that is no longer being actively marketed (as defined by the Secretary) by the issuer; or(II) the prior coverage is a policy for which duration of coverage form 1
1 So in original. Probably should be “from”.
issue or health status are factors that can be considered in determining premiums at renewal.(3) Construction
(f) OversightThe Secretary shall establish—
(1) an appeals process to enable individuals to appeal a determination under this section; and
(2) procedures to protect against waste, fraud, and abuse.
(g) Funding; termination of authority
(1) In general
(2) Insufficient funds
(3) Termination of authority
(A) In general
(B) Transition to Exchange
(4) Limitations
(5) Relation to State laws
(Pub. L. 111–148, title I, § 1101, Mar. 23, 2010, 124 Stat. 141.)
§ 18002. Reinsurance for early retirees
(a) Administration
(1) In general
(2) ReferenceIn this section:
(A) Health benefits
(B) Employment-based planThe term “employment-based plan” means a group benefits plan providing health benefits that—
(i) is—(I) maintained by one or more current or former employers (including without limitation any State or local government or political subdivision thereof or any agency or instrumentality of any of the foregoing), employee organization, a voluntary employees’ beneficiary association, or a committee or board of individuals appointed to administer such plan; or(II) a multiemployer plan (as defined in section 1002(37) of title 29); and
(ii) provides health benefits to early retirees.
(C) Early retirees
(b) Participation
(1) Employment-based plan eligibilityA participating employment-based plan is an employment-based plan that—
(A) meets the requirements of paragraph (2) with respect to health benefits provided under the plan; and
(B) submits to the Secretary an application for participation in the program, at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary shall require.
(2) Employment-based health benefitsAn employment-based plan meets the requirements of this paragraph if the plan—
(A) implements programs and procedures to generate cost-savings with respect to participants with chronic and high-cost conditions;
(B) provides documentation of the actual cost of medical claims involved; and
(C) is certified by the Secretary.
(c) Payments
(1) Submission of claims
(A) In general
(B) Basis for claims
(2) Program payments
(3) Limit
(4) Use of payments
(5) Payments not treated as income
(6) AppealsThe Secretary shall establish—
(A) an appeals process to permit participating employment-based plans to appeal a determination of the Secretary with respect to claims submitted under this section; and
(B) procedures to protect against fraud, waste, and abuse under the program.
(d) Audits
(e) Funding
(f) Limitation
(Pub. L. 111–148, title I, § 1102, title X, § 10102(a), Mar. 23, 2010, 124 Stat. 143, 892.)
§ 18003. Immediate information that allows consumers to identify affordable coverage options
(a) Internet portal to affordable coverage options
(1) Immediate establishment
(2) Connecting to affordable coverageAn Internet website established under paragraph (1) shall, to the extent practicable, provide ways for residents of, and small businesses in, any State to receive information on at least the following coverage options:
(A) Health insurance coverage offered by health insurance issuers, other than coverage that provides reimbursement only for the treatment or mitigation of—
(i) a single disease or condition; or
(ii) an unreasonably limited set of diseases or conditions (as determined by the Secretary).
(B) Medicaid coverage under title XIX of the Social Security Act [42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq.].
(C) Coverage under title XXI of the Social Security Act [42 U.S.C. 1397aa et seq.].
(D) A State health benefits high risk pool, to the extent that such high risk pool is offered in such State; and
(E) Coverage under a high risk pool under section 18001 of this title.
(F) Coverage within the small group market for small businesses and their employees, including reinsurance for early retirees under section 18002 of this title, tax credits available under section 45R of title 26 (as added by section 1421), and other information specifically for small businesses regarding affordable health care options.
(b) Enhancing comparative purchasing options
(1) In general
(2) Use of format
(c) Authority to contract
(Pub. L. 111–148, title I, § 1103, title X, § 10102(b), Mar. 23, 2010, 124 Stat. 146, 892.)