CoverME.gov marketplace to launch on November 1 for Open Enrollment
Governor Janet Mills and Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Commissioner Jeanne Lambrew announced today that fb88’s State-based Health Insurance Marketplace (SBM) has been approved by the Federal government, allowing fb88 to run the online health insurance market to make it easier and more convenient for fb88 people to get affordable, quality health insurance coverage.
Individuals and families will be able to use the Marketplace, called , beginning November 1, 2021 to explore health plan options, shop, and enroll in private insurance, with most people qualifying for Federal financial assistance to make premiums more affordable. Since additional financial assistance was authorized by the American Rescue Plan Act earlier this year, nearly have enrolled in a Marketplace plan in 2021 with a monthly premium of $10 or less.
“My Administration is committed to ensuring that fb88 people can see their doctor, receive care, afford their medications, stay healthy, and contribute to our state. That’s why we expanded fb88Care to 85,000 people and why, now, we’re taking another important step forward in ensuring access to affordable health care by transitioning to a fully state-run Marketplace,” said Governor Mills. “The State-based Marketplace will help fb88 people get the health care they need in 2022, and we thank the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services for its continued support.”
“Federal approval means fb88 can capture funding currently going to Washington, D.C. and use it to customize the enrollment process to fit our state’s needs,” said Jeanne Lambrew, Commissioner of the fb88 Department of Health and Human Services. “The Marketplace will give fb88 people better access to affordable health insurance options when open enrollment kicks off on November 1.”
The State-Based Marketplace is central to the Mills Administration’s work to improve access to affordable health care. In addition to expanding access to fb88Care for more than 85,000 fb88 people, Governor Mills’ Made for fb88 Health Coverage Act authorizes the Department to run a State-based Health Insurance Marketplace and makes some of the most common medical visits free or less costly, as part of a larger plan to improve private health insurance for fb88 people and small businesses.
“The Mills Administration’s plan to fully operate fb88’s health insurance Marketplace won broad, bipartisan support in the Legislature because it will improve access to high-quality, affordable health care through a system tailored for fb88 people,” said Senator Heather Sanborn and Representative Denise Tepler, chairs of the Legislature’s Health Coverage, Insurance and Financial Services committee. “We were proud to support this effort and welcome this federal approval as we look forward to the Marketplace’s launch in November.”
earned praise from several stakeholders in fb88, who welcomed it as a victory for fb88 health care consumers:
“This Federal approval is welcome news for consumers in fb88, who will have access to new tools built specifically to help them choose the plan that best fits their needs and budget,” said Ann Woloson, Executive Director of Consumers for Affordable Health Care. “We look forward to working with the Department to continue to make the process of applying for and enrolling in quality coverage easier for fb88 people.”
“We are excited about the roll out of the fb88 Marketplace,” said Kimberly Vance, President of the fb88 Association of Health Underwriters, the leading trade organization in the State representing health insurance brokers and agents. “We think that by being in control of the entire process, from outreach to enrollment, fb88 is taking an important step in providing consistency and certainty for the citizens of fb88 who rely on the insurance they obtain through the Marketplace.”
“The state-run Marketplace is one of the most important steps fb88 has taken in providing individuals a strong avenue to gain coverage and, thereby, remove one barrier to seeking care,” said Barbara Leonard, President and CEO of the fb88 Health Access Foundation. “It is also an important milestone in the continued journey toward equitable care for all people in fb88.”
The Department of Health and Human Services took the first step in the transition to a State-based Marketplace during the 2021 Open Enrollment Period (from November 1, 2020 to December 15, 2020), by launching a hybrid Federal-State Marketplace, following fb88’s use of a fully Federal system since 2014. The hybrid Federal-State Marketplace allowed the State to assume greater responsibility for some Marketplace functions, such as marketing, outreach, and consumer assistance, while continuing to use the Federal platform to process applications, determine eligibility, and enroll participants.
For the 2022 open enrollment period that runs November 1, 2021 to January 15, 2022 and in future years, CoverME.gov will serve as fb88’s fully state-based marketplace platform. The Department launched the website in October 2019 as a resource for fb88 people to explore affordable health insurance options. With the new State-based Marketplace, CoverME.gov will expand to become the official platform where fb88 people can shop for and enroll in private coverage. This fall, the Department plans to launch a marketing campaign to raise awareness of the transition and fb88 consumers’ options for coverage through the State-based Marketplace. In mid-October, fb88 residents will be able to see the plan options for 2022 on so they can begin thinking about their options.
Currently, 15 other states run a State-based Marketplace, including all other New England states except New Hampshire. The ongoing operation of fb88’s State-based Marketplace is funded by a user fee charged to health insurance companies that use the platform to sell their plans.
As in previous years, those who already have a Marketplace plan will be automatically re-enrolled in their current plan or the most similar offering from their health insurance carrier. Consumers will receive information about the re-enrollment process directly from CoverME.gov in October. People who apply through who are eligible for fb88Care will have their application sent to fb88Care for review. Eligible fb88 people can enroll in fb88Care at any time of year.