Policy: CMS Market Stabilization Rule and Standalone Dental Plans
On Friday, April 14th, 2017, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released the final Market Stabilization rule which includes changes intended to help stabilize the individual and small group markets and seeks to affirm the traditional role of State regulators. Specifically, the final rule:
- Shortens the open enrollment period for the 2018 plan year to November 1 through December 15. While this will be a national standard, State-based Exchanges may elect to supplement their open enrollment period with a special enrollment period (SEP), as a transitional measure. CMS intends to conduct outreach to consumers in advance of the shortened open enrollment period. CMS may shift to an earlier open enrollment period start date of either October 1 or October 15 for future open enrollment periods.
- Provides further flexibility in the AV de minimis range (-4/+2 percentage points) for all metal levels (other than bronze plans meeting certain conditions) for all non-grandfathered individual and small group health insurance plans, including qualified health plans, for the 2018 plan year. At this time, standalone dental plans (SADPs) are not included. With respect to SADPs, CMS indicated that they "intend to monitor the impact of this policy on plan design and by extension, Exchange enrollment to consider whether further changes are needed ... [and] may also consider similar changes for dental plans in the future."
Update: Building the Delta Dental Brand with the Brewers
Selling: Four-Year Rate Guarantees for Vision Plans
Interested in receiving our monthly Agent Alert newsletter? Subscribe now!
