While tightening the enrollment loopholes, CMS is also adding restrictions to its “six reasons” that consumers can cite for seeking special enrollment period insurance.

The six — losing other health coverage, household size changes due to marriage or birth, a new home, the need for cheaper coverage, errors made by marketplaces or plans, and cases of cycling between types of insurance — underwent redefinitions designed to make the bar higher for eligibility.

The new rules took pity on another party, the co-ops, which have been hammered by the late-period enrollments and subsequent claims. Half of them failed soon after the claims started to pour in. They were launched in an atmosphere of want, since Republicans, who opposed the subsidized co-ops, refused to fully budget them.

Now, says CMS, they can strike strategic partnerships “with other entities” to bolster their finances.

“In the absence of additional federal loans to co-ops, many of these entities would benefit from the infusion of private capital to assist them in achieving long-term stability and competitive success in the market,” the CMS said in the rule.