Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois

 

June 28, 2013

Legislative Update
Affordable Care Act Question of the Week: SHOP Exchanges

The “Question of the Week” gives you answers to frequently asked questions regarding the Affordable Care Act (ACA). This week’s question addresses the federally facilitated Small Business Health Options Program (SHOP) exchanges.

Q: We heard reports that the federally facilitated SHOP exchanges won’t be operational in 2014. Is that true?

A: No. The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services released a final rule on May 31 that delayed a portion of the Small Business Health Options Program (SHOP) exchange until 2015. However, the final rule does not delay the entire program.

SHOP is a health insurance exchange (also known as a health insurance marketplace) created by the Affordable Care Act for small businesses and their employees. Under the final rule, employee choice will be delayed in the federally facilitated exchange and will be made optional for state-based exchanges in 2014; employers may select one plan for employees in 2014 in federally facilitated exchanges. State-based SHOP exchanges will still be able to offer either employee choice or employer choice in 2014.

 

 
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an Independent Licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.