With Health Care Reform in full swing beginning January 1,
2014, there will be many changes for employers who offer health insurance
plans. One of the requirements is that health insurance plans themselves
have to meet certain ACA plan standards in order to be offered to the
public. If the health insurance plans are not able to meet the minimum
requirements to be ACA compliant, these plans will no longer be offered by the
health insurance carriers. However, the Federal government has allowed
the health insurance carriers to offer these non-conforming plans in 2014, but
the Federal government has left it up to each State to decide if they would
allow these plans to be offered in 2014.
Massachusetts has decided not to allow non-conforming health
insurance plans to be offered beginning in 2014. Therefore, Massachusetts
will conform to make sure all of its health insurance plans meet the minimum
ACA requirements set forth by the Federal government. Health insurance
carriers will no longer be offering health plans that do not meet these
requirements. Members can be assured beginning in 2014, their health
plans will be ACA compliant.
The health insurance companies have begun to make these ACA
changes at the plan's renewal for companies with non-conforming health
plans. If you have questions regarding your health insurance plan, please
feel free to contact our office. Thank you and have a wonderful day!