Kentucky, Maine and New Mexico launching state-based ACA exchanges
Kentucky is returning after a several-year hiatus, thanks in part to American Rescue Plan grant funding.
Kentucky, Maine and New Mexico are starting their own state-based Marketplaces for the 2022 plan year. This transition allows these states to continue to build on their efforts to meet the specific needs of their residents.
“The Affordable Care Act saves lives, and today’s actions help ensure that their residents get local, state-driven outreach and care,” said Xavier Becerra, Health and Human Services secretary. “Hundreds of thousands of people in Kentucky, Maine and New Mexico now have coverage options that can be localized through the state-based Marketplace. The Biden-Harris administration continues to support states across the country working to ensure people have quality, affordable coverage.”
Related: New CMS guidelines will extend ACA open enrollment, boost fees for insurers
Consumers in these states will be able to use their state’s Marketplaces to explore options, shop and enroll in 2022 health care plans. This includes the more than 173,000 consumers currently enrolled through HealthCare.gov for the 2021 plan year, who will have the opportunity to renew their coverage for 2022 directly through their state’s Marketplace.
Kentucky is not new to the state-based marketplace concept. From 2013 through 2015, Kentucky was considered one of the best-performing state-based Marketplaces. For Maine and New Mexico, the strictly state-based exchange is a fairly new endeavor. However, both states were considered state-based Marketplaces on the federal platform. Additionally, each state has used the ACA Marketplace and Medicaid to extend access to care to more residents.
Maine expanded its Medicaid program, MaineCare, in 2020. New Mexico also has expanded its Medicaid program, Centennial Care Medicaid, and found other ways to extend coverage and affordable care to residents.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services recently invested $20 million in American Rescue Plan grant funding to state-based Marketplaces — including $1 million each to Kentucky, Maine and New Mexico — to increase consumer access to affordable, comprehensive health insurance coverage. The grants will be used to modernize IT systems and/or conduct targeted consumer outreach activities to help make coverage enrollment smoother.
“CMS is committed to connecting individuals and families to health coverage,” Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure said. “We’re excited to support states like Maine, Kentucky and New Mexico that are working to help their residents find affordable, comprehensive health insurance through state-based Marketplaces.
“I encourage consumers in these states to take advantage of these new state-based Marketplaces to compare options and find coverage that works for them and their families during the upcoming open enrollment period.”
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