State-by-State Information Contacts Related to the Affordable Care Act A Resource for Legislatures
Published: Sept. 27, 2013
The National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) has an extensive collection of policy and legal documents both from and for state legislatures and state governments. However, this resource is for legislators and legislative staff who may receive questions from constituents, including those with an interest in other states. It provides government agency-sponsored web links that can assist individuals seeking information and advice about how to best obtain health coverage. The NCSL office and staff are not able to provide personalized enrollment advice to individuals by telephone or email.
The Federal Health Law: The federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010, also commonly known as the Affordable Care Act (ACA) or informally as "Obamacare" or "Health Reform," is termed by the abbreviation "ACA" in these listings. Some listed resources are federal and apply across all 50 states. Many other resources are specific to individual states and may include local offices that welcome consumer inquiries.
Open enrollment to obtain health coverage begins on Oct. 1, 2013 and continues for a six-month period. Coverage can start Jan. 1, 2014 if a person is eligible and enrolls by mid-December.
Disclaimer: All resources are listed with the understanding that NCSL is not responsible for the content of third-party websites, or for any opinions expressed within linked materials.
Federal Government Resources: HHS (Department of Health & Human Services) For information online visit: www.HealthCare.gov | (Spanish) www.cuidadodesalud.gov
Information about the Marketplace or Exchanges. The Federal Health Insurance Marketplace Consumer Call Center 800-318-2596, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. TTY users: call toll-free 855-889-4325. The Federal Health Insurance Marketplace Small Employer Call Center 800-706-7893 Information about Medicaid eligibility (HHS) Medicare: Those who receive health care through the Medicare program because of a disability or being over age 65, do not need to contact your state’s marketplace for coverage. More information is online at Medicare and the ACA.
For legal policy and implementation details (not for use in enrollment) from other expert sources about federal and state laws, read "Policy Resources" in section 2 below.
State by State Information Sources Online
The following listings and links for specific states are supplied by state agencies, unless otherwise noted as federal "HHS." Note that pending or future decisions by state or federal governments may change this information. Please visit www.ncsl.org/healthreform for updates. o Health Exchange / Marketplace—Use these links to examine health insurance choices in each state. The web sites listed are intended for one-stop shopping, including general information, benefit features, premium costs, available subsidies and eligibility for state-specific Medicaid health coverage.
NCSL Reports: ▪ Latest on Health Insurance Marketplaces – Online resources ▪ State Actions to Address Health Insurance Exchanges – Health Insurance Exchanges are, for most states, new entities that will function as a marketplace for buyers of health insurance, giving them choices for health coverage. They will offer a variety of certified health plans and provide information and educational services to help consumers understand their options. More Note: State links listed below will have policy selections, premiums and enrollment forms added as of October 1, 2013. Run by: F – Federally-facilitated marketplace or exchange; S = State administered exchange; P = Partnership exchange with state and federal administrative roles. o State Health Insurance Regulation and Information—For those with some health coverage already, or with questions or a complaint, most states have in-state consumer resources. This includes coverage for individuals with pre-existing health conditions; adding adult family-member dependents up to age 26; and independent appeals of denied treatment. States also monitor, review and at times deny proposed premium rate increases, and may have information on whether health insurance policies meet an 80/20 percent or an 85/15 percent standard of premium funds spent on medical treatment. Agencies also may be able to determine if current (2013) insurance needs to meet new "essential health benefits" minimum requirements beginning in 2014.
STATES HEALTH EXCHANGE / MARKETPLACE. Run STATE HEALTH INSURANCE REGULATION & INFORMATION Use links below: by:
Alabama Exchange / Marketplace for AL (HHS) F AL: state does not exercise authority for ACA policies; consumer questions and compliance are handled by HHS
Alaska Exchange / Marketplace for AK (HHS) F AK Division of Insurance: ACA Key Provisions | Frequently Asked Questions
Arizona Exchange / Marketplace for AZ (HHS) F AZ Dept. of Insurance: state does not exercise authority for ACA policies; consumer questions and compliance are handled by HHS Arkansas Exchange / Marketplace for AR (HHS) P AR Insurance Dept.: ACA
California Covered California Health Exchange S CA Dept. of Insurance: ACA
Colorado Connect for Health Colorado: Exchange S CO Division of Insurance: ACA
Connecticut S CT Insurance Department: ACA Access Health CT: Health Exchange
Delaware Choose Health Delaware (Exchange) S DE Dept. of Insurance: ACA
District of Columbia DC Health Link, Insurance Exchange D DC Dept. of Insurance/Exchange: ACA
Florida Exchange / Marketplace for FL (HHS) F FL Office of Insurance Regulation: state does not exercise authority for most ACA policies; consumer questions and compliance are handled by HHS
Georgia Exchange / Marketplace for GA (HHS) F GA Office of Insurance: Info. for Consumers Guam Not eligible to use the Marketplace - not applicable
Hawaii Hawaii Health Connector S HI Dept. of Commerce and Consumer Protection-Health
Idaho Your Health Idaho (Exchange) S ID Dept. of Insurance: ACA
Illinois IL Health Insurance Marketplace S IL Dept. of Insurance: ACA
Indiana Exchange / Marketplace for IN (HHS) F IN Dept. of Insurance: Consumers
Iowa Exchange / Marketplace (State + HHS) P IA Insurance Division: ACA
Kansas InsureKS.org, Insurance exchange F KS Insurance Commissioner: ACA
Kentucky KYNect Kentucky Health Exchange S KY Dept. of Insurance: ACA | KY consumer preemption
Louisiana Exchange / Marketplace for LA (HHS) F LA Dept. of Insurance
Maine Exchange / Marketplace for ME (HHS) F ME Dept. of Insurance: ACA
Maryland Maryland Health Connection (Exchange) S MD Insurance Administration: ACA
Massachusetts Massachusetts Health Connector (Exchange) S MA Health Reform offices
Michigan Exchange / Marketplace (State + HHS) P MI Dept. of Insurance & Financial: ACA
Minnesota MNsure Health Exchange S MN Commerce Dept.: Insurance and the ACA
Mississippi Exchange / Marketplace for MS (HHS) F MS Insurance Dept.: ACA
Missouri Exchange / Marketplace for MO (HHS) F MO: state does not exercise authority for ACA policies; consumer questions and compliance are handled by HHS
Montana Exchange / Marketplace for MT (HHS) F MT: Commissioner of Securities & Insurance: ACA
Nebraska Exchange / Marketplace for NE (HHS) F NE Dept. of Insurance: ACA
Nevada Nevada Health Link (Exchange) S NV Division of Insurance: ACA
New Hampshire Exchange / Marketplace for NH (HHS) NH Insurance Dept.: ACA
New Jersey Exchange / Marketplace for NJ (HHS) F NJ Dept. of Banking & Insurance: Consumer Info.
New Mexico NM Health Insurance Exchange P NM Office of Superintendent of Insurance: ACA
New York NY Health Plan Marketplace (Exchange) S NY Department of Financial Services: ACA
North Carolina Exchange / Marketplace for NC (HHS) F NC Health Insurance Smart NC: ACA | NC Rate Review
North Dakota Exchange / Marketplace for ND (HHS) F ND Dept. of Insurance: ACA | ND Rate Review
Ohio Exchange / Marketplace for OH (HHS) F OH Dept. of Insurance: ACA | OH consumer FAQ The agency does not exercise authority for ACA policies
Oklahoma Exchange / Marketplace for OK (HHS) F OK: state does not exercise authority for ACA policies; consumer questions and compliance are handled by HHS
Oregon Cover Oregon (Exchange) S OR Insurance Division: ACA
Pennsylvania Exchange / Marketplace for PA (HHS) F PA Insurance Dept.: ACA | PA consumer enforcement
Puerto Rico Not eligible to use the Marketplace - P.R. Insurance Commissioner: ACA
Rhode Island HealthSource RI (Exchange) S RI Office of the Health Insurance Comm.: ACA
South Carolina Exchange / Marketplace for SC (HHS) F SC Dept. of Insurance: ACA | SC Rate Review
South Dakota Exchange / Marketplace for SD (HHS) F SD Dept. of Labor & Insurance
Tennessee Exchange / Marketplace for TN (HHS) F TN Insurance Division: consumer resources Texas Exchange / Marketplace for TX (HHS) F TX Insurance Dept: state does not exercise authority for ACA policies; consumer questions and compliance are handled by HHS
Utah UT Exchange (SHOP) / Individuals (HHS) S+ UT Insurance Dept: ACA
Vermont VT Health Connect (Exchange) S VT Health Care Reform: ACA
Virginia Exchange / Marketplace for VA (HHS) F VA Bureau of Insurance: Consumers
Washington WA Health Plan Finder (Exchange) S WA Insurance Commissioner: ACA
West Virginia Exchange / Marketplace for WV (HHS) F WV Insurance Commissioner: ACA
Wisconsin Exchange / Marketplace for WI (HHS) F WI Commissioner of Insurance: ACA
Wyoming Exchange / Marketplace for WY (HHS) F WY Insurance Dept.: state does not exercise authority for ACA policies; consumer questions and compliance are handled by HHS
NOTES: Six states do not exercise authority over ACA-related insurance policies. In these states consumer questions and compliance are handled by HHS. Procedures are spelled out in a notice, "Ensuring Compliance with the Health Insurance Market Reforms."
Sources: Healthcare.gov; state agency websites; Insurance regulation and consumer information compiled with information from National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC.org)
SECTION 2: L e g a l a n d P o l i c y R e s o u r c e s (not intended for individual enrollment)
Use for more information about legal policy, features, benefits, requirements and outreach.
. Affordable Care Act Health Insurance Marketplace Outreach and Enrollment Toolkit for Elected Officials. Department of Health and Human Services [20 pages, PDF] . Provider Market Toolkit: ACA and HRSA Programs – by Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA/HHS) . Health Insurance Marketplace: 10 Things Providers Need to Know (HRSA/HHS; PDF - 173 KB) . Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) regarding implementation of various provisions of the Affordable Care Act. [U.S. Department of Labor] . What is the Health Insurance Marketplace? - Healthcare.gov . Am I eligible for coverage in the Marketplace? - Healthcare.gov . Can I get dental coverage in the Marketplace? - Healthcare.gov
NCSL Resources and Reports
. State Actions to Implement the American Health Benefit Exchange—a tally of state actions taken to implement health insurance exchanges. . Federal Health Reform News—latest information on federal agency guidance, regulations and related actions. . State Implementation Entities, Reports, and Research— provides access to state-based reports, research papers, fiscal analysis, web-sites, timelines and presentations related to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. . Health Insurance Reform Enacted Laws Related to the ACA—tracking new state laws implementing immediate or early market reforms and expanded features for 2014, in almost every state. . Health Reform State Legislative Tracking Database—latest listings, with summaries and status of more than 2,000 measures introduced in 2011, 2012 and 2013 in all 50 states. Updated online every two weeks. . State Actions Challenging Certain Health Reforms—21 states have enacted binding measures, often opposing state-enforced individual and employer mandates.
Rev. 9/27/2013 pm -– (pre-launch edition)