Creation of Insurance Pooling Mechanisms

"America's Affordable Health Choice Act of 2009" will create a National Health Insurance Exchange. This means that individuals and employers can purchase qualified insurance, including private health plans and a public health insurance option.

The public health insurance option will offer basic, enhanced, and premium plans.
These plans are:
*Basic plan includes essential benefits package, reduced cost sharing compared to the basic plan, and covers 85% of benefit costs of the plan
*Enhanced plan includes essential benefits package, reduced cost sharing compared to the basic plan, and covers 85% of benefit costs of the plan
*Premium plan includes essential benefits package with reduced cost sharing compared to the enhanced plan, and covers 95% of the benefit costs of the plan
*Premium plus plan is a premium plan that provides additional benefits, such as oral health and vision care

Plans that are participating in the Exchange are required to be issued and guaranteed renewability. Also, information will be provided to consumers by a telephone hotline, website, and during open enrollment periods. This allows consumers to choose among the plans for themselves.

Kristen Reid

Information cited from:
Kaiser Family Foundation (October 15, 2009). Health Care Reform Proposals. Retrieved from http://www.kff.org/healthreform/upload/healthreform_tri_full.pdf.