The Center for Consumer Information & Insurance Oversight (CCIIO) has created a library of materials for states that are thinking of coming up with an alternative to the current Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) rules.
The PPACA Section 1332 State Innovation Waivers program lets states apply permission to change the way they structure their PPACA public exchange programs and their commercial health insurance rules.
See also: States gear up for the PPACA reboot year
A state would have to keep PPACA’s ban on use of personal health information other than location, age and tobacco use in underwriting, and it would require that any coverage created be at least as comprehensive as the coverage required under the standard PPACA rules.
A waiver program could not increase federal spending.
Section 1332 waiver coverage would have to offer consumers similar protection against high out-of-pocket costs.
But a state could change the individual mandate rules, the employer mandate rules, health plan benefits design requirements, and the system for allocating PPACA premium tax credit money.
Changes could take effect as early as 2017.