FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 26, 2014
Contact: HHS Press Office
(202) 690-6343
HHS announces auto-enrollment plans for current Marketplace consumers for 2015
Today, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) expects to
announce its plans for helping existing Marketplace consumers get auto-enrolled
for next year. These plans would give existing consumers a simple way to
remain in the same plan next year unless they want to shop for another plan and
choose to make changes.
gAs we plan for open enrollment in year two and continue to build a
sustainable long-term system, we are committed to simplifying the experience for
consumers by allowing auto-enrollment,h said Sylvia Mathews Burwell, Secretary
of HHS. gWe are working to streamline the process for consumers wishing to
remain in their current plan.h
In todayfs health insurance market, the vast majority of consumers are
generally auto-enrolled in their plan year after year. For example, about
88 percent of employees receiving coverage through the Federal Employee Health
Benefits Program donft choose to change plans and are instead auto-enrolled in
their current plan with updated premiums and benefits. These guidelines
aim to bring the Marketplace in line with this practice in the existing
insurance market.
As with existing open enrollment periods for employer-based coverage,
consumers are strongly encouraged to use the open enrollment period as an
opportunity to update their information and reevaluate their health coverage
needs for the coming year.
Consumers always have the ability to return to the system for shopping,
changing plans, or reporting life changes, or a change to their annual income to
ensure they are getting the lowest cost possible on their monthly premium. And,
to help ensure the program integrity of how taxpayer dollars are spent, while
also protecting consumers from having to pay back tax credits they are no longer
eligible for, under the approach that the Federally-facilitated Marketplace
would use in 2015, the small number of consumers whose updated income
information suggests they no longer qualify for a tax credit next year, will
still be auto-enrolled in their current plan, but without a tax credit.
State-based Marketplaces may take this approach as well, or propose an
alternative.
Under the plans that HHS expects to announce today, consumers in the
Federally-facilitated Marketplace will receive notices from the Marketplace
informing them how to update their information to get a tailored and updated tax
credit that keeps up with any income changes. Consumers will receive information
from their health insurance company about the premium and the amount they are
eligible to save on their monthly bill close to the beginning of the open
enrollment period, when they will be able to take action should they choose to
do so.
gWe are continuing to plan for a second open enrollment period, and as we do
so, are mindful of our ongoing work to improve the Marketplace for consumers,
offering families a way to make the choices that meet their health care needs
year after year,h said Marilyn Tavenner, Administrator of the Centers for
Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
We are also announcing plans for additional flexibility for State-based
Marketplaces in this area, including the ability for State-based Marketplaces to
propose unique approaches that meet the specific needs of their State, while
streamlining the consumer experience.
To read todayfs proposed rule visit: http://www.cms.gov/CCIIO/Resources/Regulations-and-Guidance/Downloads/508_CMS-9941-P-OFRv-6-26-14.pdf
To read todayfs Guidance on Annual Redeterminations for 2015 visit: http://www.cms.gov/CCIIO/Resources/Regulations-and-Guidance/Downloads/2014-0626-Guidance-on-annual-redet-option-2015-FINAL.pdf
The draft issuer renewal and discontinuance notices are open to public
comment and may be viewed here: http://www.cms.gov/CCIIO/Resources/Regulations-and-Guidance/Downloads/2014-0626-Bulletin-on-Renewal-and-Termination-Notices-FINAL.pdf
Instructions are available here: http://www.cms.gov/CCIIO/Resources/Regulations-and-Guidance/Downloads/0626-2014-Notice-instructions.pdf
###