On December 16th, CMS published the Final Benefit and Payment Parameters for the 2018 plan year. The final rule implements several proposed changes to the marketplaces designed to improve the risk pool for insurers by limiting special enrollment periods, strengthening the risk adjustment program, and implementing a reinsurance fund as part of risk adjustment. The rule also will standardize plan benefits on HealthCare.gov, revise child age rating bands, and make it easier for an insurer who leaves the ACA market to re-enter in a future year, among other changes.
The provisions of the final rule are effective on January 1, 2017. This document summarizes several major provisions of the final rule. The full rule is available here.