HHS Delays Another Part of the Exchange

[Ann H]

HHS has announced the delay of the SHOP exchange, the portion of the exchange that is for Small Businesses to choose a multi-option plan. It won't be ready by 2014, but they predict it will be ready by 2015. The SHOP exchange was weak to begin with, but without the multi-plan option, it's a non-starter.

Sensing any desperation over the advancing deadline, guys?

HHS postpones SHOP choice requirement | LifeHealthPro

This delay will undoubtedly disappoint those who have seen employee choice as the primary benefit of the SHOP exchange. It also leaves unclear what advantage the SHOP exchange offers employers over the outside small-group market. Employers who qualify for the small-employer premium tax credit will still be able to qualify only through the exchange, but other employers are likely to find the SHOP exchange largely indistinguishable from the outside market. Looking at the Herculean tasks that the federal and state governments face in implementing the exchanges by 2014, however, HHS concluded that working out employee choice and premium aggregation were tasks that could wait another year.​

 

[stuy119]

I feel as if this is fake, and you somehow created a cloned page to host that information. It's as if you were Lucy, I'm Charlie, and running full speed towards the football right now ....

This is great news. Way to make my Friday (and weekend), Ann!

 

[Ann H]

I feel as if this is fake, and you somehow created a cloned page to host that information. It's as if you were Lucy, I'm Charlie, and running full speed towards the football right now ....

This is great news. Way to make my Friday (and weekend), Ann!

Happy weekend to you!

 

[Yagents]

For those small employers that might have been hanging on to see what goodies the O'care shop exchange would bring, this will make them think even more about dropping their group plan

This puppy is falling apart.....

 

[stuy119]

For those small employers that might have been hanging on to see what goodies the O'care shop exchange would bring, this will make them think even more about dropping their group plan

This puppy is falling apart.....

Or, vice-versa, realize that the narrow networks (supposedly) in the exchange plans will be a detriment to their hiring prospects if they decide to drop the plan. If presented properly, and to an employer who isn't a non-caring ***, you have a good chance to buy yourself another year with a small group plan.

 

[toddoxley]

Fantastic news for a Friday afternoon... Lets hope the rest of this new Market Place crumbles....

 

[Yagents]

Not the way this puppy is set up. The employer will hurt lower income families by offering a group plan unless they are will to pay a lot of the entire premium for the family. If not, the family won't be able to get subsidies on the exchange if they offer a group plan.