Implementing New Private Health Insurance Market Rules  

With the Jan. 1, 2014 effective date for implementing major changes in the private insurance market under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) approaching, this brief looks at three proposed federal regulations released in late November 2012 that detail how the ACA's rules will operate in the following areas: private insurance market reforms, essential health benefits and actuarial value, and wellness programs offered or required by employers under group health plans. These regulations deal with aspects of the ACA intended to promote broader risk pooling, prohibit discrimination based on health status, enhance insurance market efficiency and affordability, promote wellness, and improve consumer protections.

The brief explains the key provisions in each regulation and notes where there are outstanding issues as stakeholders comment on the rules. It also examines areas where the regulations seek to balance tradeoffs, and how these choices may impact consumers.

Child Only Coverage in Georgia 

 Starting in January, Georgia parents will once again have the opportunity to sign their children up for a "child-only'' health insurance policy.

These policies are bought by parents who have an employer policy that doesn't offer dependent coverage. And they're bought by parents who can't purchase coverage for themselves due to cost or a health condition, and who want to cover their children.

One unintended consequence of the 2010 Affordable Care Act was that sales of these child-only insurance policies were halted in Georgia and other states.

State Insurance Commissioner Ralph Hudgens this week signed an order finalizing rules requiring all Georgia health insurers selling individual policies to offer child-only coverage. The 2012 Georgia General Assembly passed legislation to address this issue.

"To guarantee that children get the quality medical care they need, I encourage parents and guardians with uninsured children to consider purchasing this coverage,'' Hudgens said in a statement.

The health reform law prohibited insurers from denying or limiting coverage for children under age 19. In response, insurers in Georgia and other states stopped offering individual health insurance to children.

Click HERE to read the full article from GeorgiaHealthNews.com