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Today, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), announced new measures that will allow consumers to more easily find the right form of quality, affordable health care coverage on HealthCare.gov that best meets their needs. These measures set the landscape for the upcoming HealthCare.Gov Open Enrollment Period, which will begin on November 1, 2022, and are part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s ongoing efforts to strengthen and build on the Affordable Care Act (ACA).
“The Affordable Care Act has successfully expanded coverage and provided hundreds of health plans for consumers to choose from,” said Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra. “By including new standardized plan options on HealthCare.gov, we are making it even easier for consumers to compare quality and value across health care plans. The Biden-Harris Administration will continue to ensure coverage is more accessible to every American by building a more competitive, transparent, and affordable health care market.”
“The recent Open Enrollment Period demonstrated the demand for high-quality, affordable health coverage. These steps increase the value of health care coverage on HealthCare.Gov and further strengthen the health insurance Marketplace,” said CMS Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure. “This policy will make it easier for people to choose the best plan that meets their needs by standardizing plan options, like maximum out-of-pocket limitations, deductibles, and cost-sharing features.”
The 2023 Notice of Benefits and Payment Parameters Final Rule (final 2023 Payment Notice) makes regulatory changes in the individual and small group health insurance markets and establishes parameters and requirements issuers need to design plans and set rates for the 2023 plan year. The rule also includes regulatory standards to help states, the Marketplaces, and health insurance companies in the individual and small group markets better serve consumers. Major policies include:
- Advancing Standardized Plan Options
- Implementing New Network Adequacy Requirements
- Increasing Value of Coverage for Consumers
- Increasing Access for Consumers and Removing Barriers to Coverage
- Expanding Access to Essential Community Providers
- Further Streamlining HealthCare.gov Operations
For more information, click the orange button below to view the full press release!
To view the final rule in its entirety, visit: https://www.cms.gov/files/document/cms-9911-f-patient-protection-final-rule.pdf
To view the final rule Fact Sheet, visit: https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/hhs-notice-benefit-and-payment-parameters-2023-final-rule-fact-sheet
To learn more about how standardized plans can support consumer decision-making and improve competition, please see the HHS Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE) Issue Brief: https://aspe.hhs.gov/reports/standardized-plans-health-insurance-marketplaces
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