An Act To Create an Open Enrollment Period Consistent with Federal Regulations for Health Insurance Exchanges
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 24-A MRSA §2736-C, sub-§11 is enacted to read:
11. Open enrollment. Notwithstanding subsection 3, for individual health plans that are offered outside a health benefit exchange established or operated in the State pursuant to Section 1311 of the federal Affordable Care Act, a carrier shall:
A. Provide an open enrollment period from October 1, 2013 to March 31, 2014;
B. For plan years beginning on or after January 1, 2015, provide an annual enrollment period from October 15th to December 7th of the preceding calendar year; and
C. Provide special enrollment periods consistent with the requirements applicable to open enrollment for health insurance exchanges pursuant to 45 Code of Federal Regulations, Section 155.420.
summary
This bill establishes an open enrollment period for individual health insurance plans that is consistent with the open enrollment period established by federal regulations for health benefit exchanges, and provides for the same special enrollment periods as exist for coverage purchased through a health insurance exchange.