Friday Marks Important Milestone in Creation of Health Insurance Marketplaces

Regardless of the Model Selected, Every State Will Have a Marketplace for Residents to Purchase Affordable Health Coverage

Today, Friday, February 15, is the deadline by which any state interested in creating a federal-state partnership model for a health insurance marketplace under the Affordable Care Act must submit its application to the Department of Health and Human Services. Regardless of a state’s decision, a marketplace where state residents can purchase affordable health coverage will be created in that state. The following is the statement of Ron Pollack, Executive Director of Families USA, on these marketplaces.

“By the end of the day today, all states will have indicated whether they will create their own health insurance marketplace, help establish a federal-state partnership marketplace, or opt for a federally operated marketplace. What is most important, however, is that regardless of who operates and maintains these marketplaces, every state will have such a marketplace, and every resident of every state will have access to one.

 “A health insurance marketplace within each state is one of the key provisions of the Affordable Care Act. Each marketplace will offer insurance shoppers a variety of tools, such as a consumer-friendly website, a toll-free hotline for assistance, and a network for one-on-one assistance—all intended to help the residents of that state find and purchase the quality, affordable health insurance policy that best suits their personal or family needs.

“The Affordable Care Act offers premium tax credits on a sliding scale to families with incomes as high as $94,200 for a family of four. The health care law also requires that health care policies be presented in a clear, standardized format and that they meet consumer protection and quality standards. Additionally, the law raises the eligibility for Medicaid, and many families will be checking to see if they qualify for this program via the marketplace. In the health insurance marketplaces, these key provisions of the law will come together for the benefit of millions of Americans.”

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Families USA is the national organization for health care consumers. It is nonprofit and nonpartisan and advocates for high-quality, affordable health care for all Americans.

1201 New York Avenue NW, Suite 1100 · Washington, DC 20005
202-628-3030 · Email: info@familiesusa.org · www.familiesusa.org