You can read about some new twists to Obamacare at https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2014/09/05/2014-21178/patient-protection-and-affordable-care-act-annual-eligibility-redeterminations-for-exchange.
Among the changes for this benefits season is the provision of auto-renew where consumers are informed:
“In § 155.335(j), we proposed to modify the standards for re-enrollment in coverage. First, in paragraph (j)(1), we proposed that if an enrollee remains eligible for enrollment in a QHP through the Exchange upon annual redetermination, and the product under which the QHP in which he or she was enrolled remains available for renewal, consistent with 45 CFR 147.106, such enrollee will have his or her enrollment in a QHP under the product renewed unless he or she terminates coverage, including termination of coverage in connection with voluntarily selecting a different QHP, in accordance with § 155.430.”
IF YOU HAVE AN OBAMACARE PLAN YOU WILL BE RENEWED AUTOMATICALLY IN THE SAME OR SIMILAR PLAN UNLESS YOU CHANGE OR TERMINATE COVERAGE. THIS DOES NOT MEAN THAT YOUR PLAN HAS NOT CHANGED IN TERMS OF COVERAGE OR COSTS, which HHS is very careful to remind consumers that they’ll be receiving info from their insurance companies about “new” provisions regarding their premiums and coverage.
While the PR includes compassionate mention of avoiding lapse in coverage, and making things “easier” for the consumer, to me it’s pretty apparent that this is about preserving enrollment numbers for the exchange.
Note that new rules for the Federal exchange have also made reporting changes by mail UNACCEPTABLE. If you go to https://www.healthcare.gov/how-do-i-report-life-changes-to-the-marketplace/ you’ll find that online and phone reporting is necessary. You are supposed to receive either an online or hard copy of changes you’ve made.
