HB245 Summary

• Creates the Alabama Health Insurance Marketplace as a quasi-public corporation to facilitate the purchase and sale of qualified health plans for individuals and small employers, with operations beginning by January 1, 2014.

• Establishes a Board of Directors comprised of state officials, legislative representatives, insurance industry members, health care providers, and consumer advocates with 20 total voting members serving four-year terms.

• Requires the exchange to operate separate Individual Health Insurance Marketplace and Small Employer Insurance Marketplace, maintain an Internet website with standardized plan information, establish provider network standards, and implement a navigator program for consumer assistance.

• Authorizes the exchange to charge assessments or user fees to health carriers, agents, and brokers to become self-sustaining by January 1, 2015, and prohibits funds from being used for staff retreats, promotional giveaways, or excessive executive compensation.

• Automatically repeals the act if the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Public Law 111-148) or any part requiring operation of the exchange is repealed or declared unconstitutional by the U.S. Supreme Court.