HHS Approves Nation’s First Section 1332 Waiver for a Public Option–Style Health Care Plan in Colorado

By Christine Monahan, Justin Giovannelli, and Kevin Lucia

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recently approved a new Section 1332 waiver authorizing Colorado’s public option-style law. Under the state law, insurance carriers must offer individuals and small businesses new, lower-cost “Colorado Option” plans in addition to their regular plan offerings. The waiver approval marks the first time the federal government has taken action to approve state legislation introducing new, more heavily regulated plans into Affordable Care Act marketplaces to compete against traditional plans.

In a new post for the Commonwealth Fund’s To the Point blog, CHIR’s Christine Monahan, Justin Giovannelli, and Kevin Lucia dive into Colorado’s new law. The authors detail the state public option, the significance of the 1332 waiver approval, projected impact on premiums and enrollment, and what this means for future state action. You can read the full post here.

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