DES MOINES – The Iowa Insurance Commissioner announced public hearings for the Iowa Stopgap Measure, the so-called “innovative solution” to address problems in the state with the Affordable Care Act (ACA or Obamacare).
Iowa Republican say that under the Iowa Stopgap Measure, Iowans will be able to purchase a standard health benefits plan that will be guaranteed issue, that will protect consumers from annual and lifetime limits, and that will include all of the Essential Health Benefits of the ACA and any additional benefits required by Iowa law. The Iowa Stopgap Measure will utilize a pass-through of Iowa’s share of federal advanced premium tax credits (APTCs) and cost-sharing reductions (CSRs) to provide Iowa consumers with monthly age- and income-based premium credits and to support a reinsurance mechanism for costly medical claims. Consumers will purchase the standard health benefits plan directly from insurance companies participating in the Iowa Stopgap Measure during the open enrollment period beginning November 1, 2017. The plan was submitted for federal approval, and the IID continues to work with all the appropriate entities to ensure it is approved.
Further, the IID will provide a third-party economic analysis at the end of this month.
The Iowa Stopgap Measure is available for public review, here:
https://iid.iowa.gov/documents/iowa-stopgap-measure
Written comments will be accepted through 4:30 p.m. on Monday, August 14, 2017, here:
https://comment.iowa.gov/Notice/Details/Iowa-Stopgap-Measure
COMMENT SUBMITTED:
Tom H. – Clear Lake, IA – July 25, 2017
Dear Insurance Commissioner Ommen,
I am a 61 year old retiree with a pre-existing condition and the financial ability to buy health insurance. All I need is a good product to be able to buy. Ideally this would include out of state coverage availability. I agree that a reinsurance policy is a good solution. I am a lifelong Iowa resident and would like to keep it that way but am currently considering moving out of state just to get health insurance. Please get the stopgap (or something) implemented for 1/1/2018 so I can remain an Iowan.
Sincerely,
Tom H.
