SB 88 Summary

• Establishes the Ohio Health Benefit Exchange Agency with a board of directors including three state officials and six gubernatorial appointees representing diverse stakeholder groups; excludes health insurance providers, brokers, and agents from board membership.

• Creates the Ohio Health Benefit Exchange Program with two components: an individual coverage exchange and a SHOP (Small Business Health Options Program) exchange for qualified small employers, operational starting January 1, 2014.

• Authorizes the exchange to certify qualified health plans meeting federal standards, establish enrollment periods, maintain a website with comparative plan information, and provide navigators to assist consumers and employers.

• Expands the definition of "small employer" from 50 to 100 employees effective January 1, 2016, and allows qualified employers to offer coverage through the SHOP exchange to their employees.

• Permits the exchange agency to charge assessments or user fees to carriers to support operations and establishes an Ohio Health Benefit Exchange Operating Fund; excludes exchange employees from state job classification system compensation requirements.