Ohio guidelines for reissuing cancelled health plans

Cincinnati.com this morning has an article relating that “The Ohio Department of Insurance  issued new guidance last  Wednesday for insurance companies considering reissuing plans  they had cancelled because they weren’t compliant with new Obamacare rules that go into place next month.

  Details about the process and rules for insurers to follow as to the reissuance of cancelled plans – which is optional for all insurers and became effective on Tuesday, December 3^rd. – were linked to in Cincinnati.com’s article, and contain additional links to a letter to state insurance commissioners from the Centerfor Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight (CCIIO) on November 14, 2013 recommending the adoption of the CCIIO’s transitional policy for non-grandfathered health insurance plans in the individual and small group markets that would otherwise terminate or require modification as a result of the federal health insurance market reforms required under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), which further states:

“In light of CCIIO’s transitional policy, insurers in Ohio may offer their insureds the ability to renew, at the insured’s option, plans that were in effect on October 1, 2013, for a policy year starting between January 1, 2014, and October 1, 2014. Issuers wishing to extend coverage shall follow CCIIO’s transitional policy, including federal notice requirements, offering reenrollment or extended coverage to impacted policyholders in the individual and/or small group market in a uniform and non-discriminatory manner in accordance with Ohio law (ORC §3924.03 and §3923.57).”