On November 14, 2013, President Obama announced that health insurance issuers may choose to continue individual and small group coverage that does not comply with certain market reforms under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). In addition, the President stated that such coverage and associated group health plans of small businesses for a policy year starting between January 1, 2014, and October 1, 2014, will not be considered to be out of compliance with the ACA. The specific market reforms affected by the President’s announcement are set to take effect for plan or policy years beginning on or after January 1, 2014.

For details regarding the President’s announcement, please see the letter sent to state insurance commissioners by the Director of the Center for Consumer Information and Insurance oversight division of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid here.