Choice
Qualified individuals
A qualified individual may enroll in any qualified health plan available to such individual and for which such individual is eligible.
Qualified employers
Employer may specify level
section 18022(d) of this titleA qualified employer may provide support for coverage of employees under a qualified health plan by selecting any level of coverage under to be made available to employees through an Exchange.
Employee may choose plans within a level
Each employee of a qualified employer that elects a level of coverage under subparagraph (A) may choose to enroll in a qualified health plan that offers coverage at that level.
Payment of premiums by qualified individuals
A qualified individual enrolled in any qualified health plan may pay any applicable premium owed by such individual to the health insurance issuer issuing such qualified health plan.
Single risk pool
Individual market
A health insurance issuer shall consider all enrollees in all health plans (other than grandfathered health plans) offered by such issuer in the individual market, including those enrollees who do not enroll in such plans through the Exchange, to be members of a single risk pool.
Small group market
A health insurance issuer shall consider all enrollees in all health plans (other than grandfathered health plans) offered by such issuer in the small group market, including those enrollees who do not enroll in such plans through the Exchange, to be members of a single risk pool.
Merger of markets
A State may require the individual and small group insurance markets within a State to be merged if the State determines appropriate.
State law
A State law requiring grandfathered health plans to be included in a pool described in paragraph (1) or (2) shall not apply.
Empowering consumer choice
Continued operation of market outside Exchanges
Continued operation of State benefit requirements
1Nothing in this title shall be construed to terminate, abridge, or limit the operation of any requirement under State law with respect to any policy or plan that is offered outside of an Exchange to offer benefits.
Voluntary nature of an Exchange
Choice to enroll or not to enroll
1Nothing in this title shall be construed to restrict the choice of a qualified individual to enroll or not to enroll in a qualified health plan or to participate in an Exchange.
Prohibition against compelled enrollment
1Nothing in this title shall be construed to compel an individual to enroll in a qualified health plan or to participate in an Exchange.
Individuals allowed to enroll in any plan
section 18022(e) of this titlesection 18022(e)(2) of this titleA qualified individual may enroll in any qualified health plan, except that in the case of a catastrophic plan described in , a qualified individual may enroll in the plan only if the individual is eligible to enroll in the plan under .
Members of Congress in the Exchange
Requirement
Definitions
Member of Congress
The term “Member of Congress” means any member of the House of Representatives or the Senate.
Congressional staff
The term “congressional staff” means all full-time and part-time employees employed by the official office of a Member of Congress, whether in Washington, DC or outside of Washington, DC.
No penalty for transferring to minimum essential coverage outside Exchange
section 5000A(f) of title 26An Exchange, or a qualified health plan offered through an Exchange, shall not impose any penalty or other fee on an individual who cancels enrollment in a plan because the individual becomes eligible for minimum essential coverage (as defined in without regard to paragraph (1)(C) or (D) thereof) or such coverage becomes affordable (within the meaning of section 36B(c)(2)(C) of such title).
Enrollment through agents or brokers
Qualified individuals and employers; access limited to citizens and lawful residents
Qualified individuals
In general
Incarcerated individuals excluded
An individual shall not be treated as a qualified individual if, at the time of enrollment, the individual is incarcerated, other than incarceration pending the disposition of charges.
Qualified employer
In general
The term “qualified employer” means a small employer that elects to make all full-time employees of such employer eligible for 1 or more qualified health plans offered in the small group market through an Exchange that offers qualified health plans.
Extension to large groups
In general
Beginning in 2017, each State may allow issuers of health insurance coverage in the large group market in the State to offer qualified health plans in such market through an Exchange. Nothing in this subparagraph shall be construed as requiring the issuer to offer such plans through an Exchange.
Large employers eligible
If a State under clause (i) allows issuers to offer qualified health plans in the large group market through an Exchange, the term “qualified employer” shall include a large employer that elects to make all full-time employees of such employer eligible for 1 or more qualified health plans offered in the large group market through the Exchange.
Access limited to lawful residents
If an individual is not, or is not reasonably expected to be for the entire period for which enrollment is sought, a citizen or national of the United States or an alien lawfully present in the United States, the individual shall not be treated as a qualified individual and may not be covered under a qualified health plan in the individual market that is offered through an Exchange.
Pub. L. 111–148, title I, § 1312124 Stat. 182(, title X, § 10104(i), , , 901.)
Editorial Notes
References in Text
Pub. L. 111–148124 Stat. 130This title, referred to in subsecs. (d)(1), (2), (3)(A), (B) and (f)(1), (2), is title I of , , , which enacted this chapter and enacted, amended, and transferred numerous other sections and notes in the Code. For complete classification of title I to the Code, see Tables.
Pub. L. 111–148The effective date of this subtitle, referred to in subsec. (d)(3)(D)(i), is the effective date of subtitle D of title I of , which is .
Pub. L. 111–148124 Stat. 119section 18001 of this titleThis Act, referred to in subsec. (d)(3)(D)(i), is , , , known as the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under and Tables.
Amendments
Pub. L. 111–148, § 10104(i)(1)2010—Subsec. (a)(1). , inserted “and for which such individual is eligible” before period at end.
Pub. L. 111–148, § 10104(i)(2)(B)Subsec. (e). , struck out concluding provisions which read as follows: “Such procedures may include the establishment of rate schedules for broker commissions paid by health benefits plans offered through an exchange.”
Pub. L. 111–148, § 10104(i)(2)(A)Subsec. (e)(1). , inserted “and employers” after “enroll individuals”.
Pub. L. 111–148, § 10104(i)(3)Subsec. (f)(1)(A)(ii). , struck out “(except with respect to territorial agreements under this subsection)” before period at end.