The federal government has developed a new policy to ensure consumers whose insurers have left the Affordable Care Act marketplace maintain coverage in 2017, reports The New York Times.
Here are four things to know about the issue.
1. Under the program, federal exchanges will automatically suggest a new plan for enrollees affected by insurer exits — unless the enrollee selects a plan themselves or proactively opts out of exchange coverage.
2. Federak officials said consumers may pick another plan if they do not like the one suggested for them, and they would not be enrolled in a plan without their consent, reports The New York Times.
3. Consumers who are matched with federally suggested plan aren't enrolled in coverage and would generally have to pay the first month's premium to activate coverage, according to HHS. ACA enrollees who do no wish to enroll in the federally suggested plan can either select another option, or simply not pay the premium to enroll.
4. News of the new policy comes less than a month before ACA open enrollment begins. Open enrollment begins Nov. 1 and runs through Jan. 31.
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