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Health Insurance Exchange Briefing

Health Insurance Exchange Briefing. January 24, 2013. Delaware Small Business Caucus. Agenda. Review of Small Business Outreach To Date Information for Delaware ’ s Employers Strategy for Small Business Outreach in 2013. Small Business Engagement 2010 - 2012.

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Health Insurance Exchange Briefing

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  1. Health Insurance Exchange Briefing January 24, 2013 Delaware Small Business Caucus

  2. Agenda • Review of Small Business Outreach To Date • Information for Delaware’s Employers • Strategy for Small Business Outreach in 2013

  3. Small Business Engagement 2010 - 2012 • Since the year of its enactment, the Delaware Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) has led the State’s efforts to engage small businesses in planning for Affordable Care Act implementation. • DHSS efforts have been continuously supported by the Department of Insurance, Office of the Governor, and the Health Care Commission. • In 2010, the State began conducting meetings with a broad spectrum of stakeholder groups, including chambers of commerce and business associations, such as the Delaware Bioscience Association. • In 2011, the State sponsored seven statewide forums designed to educate stakeholders on health insurance exchanges. Three such forums were dedicated exclusively to small employer issues. • Also in 2011, the State engaged individual small business owners and small group insurance brokers in four focus group sessions to gain valuable input for the Exchange planning process.

  4. Small Business Engagement 2010 - 2012 • In 2011 and 2012, key members of the State’s Exchange planning team presented information on Health Insurance Exchanges and other Affordable Care Act provisions to groups such as the Delaware Restaurant Association and the Delaware Society for Human Resources Management. • The Exchange planning team has continued to present information and updates on Exchange and ACA issues during the monthly, public Health Care Commission meetings. • The Health Care Commission has acted as the main channel for stakeholder input, issuing press releases and organizing public comment periods on important issues, such as the essential health benefits benchmark determination and qualified health plan certification standards.

  5. Information for Small Businesses • During the last three years of stakeholder outreach, the State has compiled and presented information on a number of small business related issues. • The following slides represent the breadth of topics that have been explored with stakeholders thus far specifically related to the Health Insurance Exchange. • The information in these slides represent the most current official guidance issued from the US Department of Health and Human Services, the Internal Revenue Service, and the Department of Labor.

  6. Health Insurance Exchange for Delaware • The Affordable Care Act requires that each state will have a health insurance exchange (Exchange) operational in 2014. • Exchanges are marketplaces that will allow an individual or small business to shop for, compare, select, and pay for private health insurance plans that meet certain quality and value criteria. • States have four options to meet this requirement by 2014: • Establish and operate a State-run Exchange • Identify and establish a partnership with other states to establish a Regional Exchange • Cede all functions to the Federally Facilitated Exchange • Enter into a partnership with the Federally Facilitated Exchange in which the State retains Plan Management, Consumer Assistance, or both areas of Exchange functionality

  7. Health Insurance Exchange for Delaware • Given Delaware’s small expected Exchange enrollment, financial analyses showed that the cost of operating an Exchange may be too large to justify a State-based Exchange. • Delaware aims to minimize any additional administrative cost that may impact premiums in the State. • Risk is too high for the first year of operation to make a State-based Exchange feasible. • Delaware has opted to pursue a State-Federal Partnership in which the State retains Plan Management and Consumer Assistance functionality. • Plan Management and Consumer Assistance have the highest impact on consumers and other stakeholders in the State. • The Federal government would assume responsibility for supporting the technical infrastructure of the Exchange. • Delaware has been working very closely the Federal agencies responsible for Exchange implementation to ensure that the State’s interests are protected and the needs of Delawareans are met.

  8. Exchange • Essential Health Benefits – Selection of Benchmark Plan • Public Hearings • Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield EPO Plan • Plan Management - State Partnership Model • Certification Requirements for Qualified Health Plans • Market Place Assisters – Broad-based Outreach • Certification Requirements • Navigators – Targeted Special Needs Outreach

  9. Employer Eligibility for Exchange • The Small Business Health Options Program (SHOP) Exchange will offer health insurance plans to small employers starting in January 2014 • For Delaware, the SHOP will serve businesses with 2 – 50 employees • Starting in 2016, the SHOP Exchange must offer coverage to businesses with ≤100 employees • States may choose to expand to larger groups in 2017 and beyond • Total employees for Exchange eligibility = full time workers, part time workers, and seasonal employees • For seasonal workers, employee count is equal to the proportion of days worked in a year.

  10. How an Exchange Works • General process for purchasing coverage in the SHOP: • Employerlogs into Exchange website • Employerenters basic information about employees who will be offered coverage • Employer sets parameters for plan options • Employee logs in using “access code” from their employer • Employee views all options made available to them and the premium they will pay after their employer’s contribution is deducted • Employee chooses option and completes enrollment

  11. Note on Exchange Purchasing Model • Federal regulations supported a defined contribution model for Exchange plans • Currently, defined contribution is 50% of employee premiums for small group plans in Delaware • However, no specific contribution requirements have been issued for the Exchange. The only requirement is that there must be a plan offered that fits the affordability and value guidelines.

  12. Tax Credit Eligibility • Employers with < 25 low wage employees may be eligible for tax credits • Low wage = maximum of $50,000 per year • Tax credit may equal up to 50% of employer share of premium

  13. Employer Mandate • ACA requires large employers to provide minimum coverage to all full time employees • Employee contribution is ≤ 9.5% of the employee’s W-2 wages • If an employer chooses not to offer coverage to their employees, the employer will be charged a penalty if: • An employee enrolls in an individual Exchange plan AND qualifies for a federal subsidy (income less than 400% FPL) • Penalty = $167 per month per full time employee (less 30 full time employees)

  14. Large Employers and Full Time Employees • Large Employer for Purposes of Penalty: • Average of 50 or more full time employees on business days during the preceding calendar year • A business can claim an exemption from large employer status if: • The total number of full time employees only exceeded 50 for less than 120 business days, OR • If the full time employees in excess of 50 were all seasonal employees • Full time employee: An employee who worked, on average, 30 hours per week during the calendar year

  15. Waiting Periods for Insurance Coverage Eligibility • Waiting periods must not be longer than 90 days • Defined as the period that must pass before the individual is eligible to be covered for benefits under the terms of the group plan • Special enrollment periods apply for individuals when they become eligible for coverage under their employer’s plan

  16. Employer Affordability Safe Harbor • 9.5% affordability is based on Box 1 of the W-2 for that employee from you (as an employer), not on the employee’s total household income. • Affordability is based on self-only coverage. • If an employee chooses to enroll in coverage through their employer, even if it doesn’t meet the affordability standard, no penalty would apply.

  17. Employer Noticing Requirement • Employers will be required to issue notices to their employees including the following information: • Information about the state’s Exchange and the services it provides; • Notification about the employer’s current health coverage plan (if applicable) and whether the plan offered meets or exceeds 60 percent actuarial value;  • Availability of alternative coverage through the Exchange, and the caveat that if an employee were to purchase a health plan through the Exchange, the employee may lose the employer’s contribution to health benefits offered by the employer. • Originally, this notice was to be issued by March 1, 2013. Given the lack of guidance, model notices, etc issued by the Federal Government, the Department of Labor announced that the issue date would be delayed. Further notices from the Department of Labor and Department of Health and Human Services are expected on this issue.

  18. Small Business Outreach Plan - 2013 • The State aims to ensure that all local Delaware business owners understand the requirements and opportunities within the ACA. • Recognizing that the information needs of small businesses vary greatly from large businesses (as defined by the ACA), the matrix on the following slide aims to frame the outreach needs and available resources for each group. • The items included in this matrix should be reviewed as high level options for consideration and may be changed based on input from stakeholders and other interested parties.

  19. Small Business Outreach Plan - 2013

  20. Small Business Outreach Plan - 2013 • The State is in the process of recruiting participation for a Small Business Outreach Workgroup to expand this matrix into a full outreach strategy. • The Department of Labor as well as small business owners and insurance brokers who had participated in previous stakeholder activities have expressed an interest in participating. • Others who may be interested in participating in the Workgroup or hosting meetings to discuss small business concerns in the next 6 months are encouraged to contact Crystal English at the following email address: Crystal.English@state.de.us. • The first official Small Business Outreach Workgroup meeting will occur on February 7, 2013. Meeting invitations and agenda will be emailed to all interested parties on Monday January 28.

  21. General Stakeholder Updates • The Delaware Health Care Commission (HCC) will continue to provide the most current information on Exchange planning and other aspects of Health Care Reform in Delaware. • HCC meetings are open to the public and occur during the first Thursday of every month in Dover • Reports, FAQs, and updates are posted to the HCC website regularly: http://dhss.delaware.gov/dhcc

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