Key Updates on Health Insurance Regulations
Here are the key updates on health insurance regulations for independent agents for August 2024, summarized for quick reference:
Short-Term Health Plans Duration: A new federal rule limits the duration of short-term, limited-duration insurance (STLDI) plans to a maximum of four months. This change is set to take effect on September 1, 2024. Previously, these plans could last up to 36 months in some states. This shift will require compliance with the new, shorter duration limit starting in September.
- Automatic Re-Enrollments for CSRs: Starting in the 2024 plan year, enrollees who qualify for Cost-Sharing Reductions (CSRs) and are currently in a bronze-level plan may be automatically re-enrolled in a silver-level plan if it offers a lower or equivalent premium. This aims to ensure that eligible individuals benefit from available reductions.
- Special Enrollment Period (SEP) for Medicaid/CHIP Loss: A new SEP has been introduced for individuals losing Medicaid or Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) coverage. These individuals will have a 90-day window to enroll in a marketplace plan, which aligns with the reconsideration period for Medicaid/CHIP eligibility.
- Marketplace Plan Display Errors: Adjustments have been made to SEP eligibility criteria related to display errors on the marketplace. Now, cost-sharing errors can trigger a SEP, and the burden of proof for these errors is no longer solely on the consumers.
These updates are crucial for independent agents to stay informed and effectively assist clients with the latest health insurance regulations.
A quick overview of the topics covered in this article.
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