Alaska receives waiver to implement reinsurance program

The departments of Health and Human Services and the Treasury yesterday approved a Section 1332 waiver for Alaska to implement a five-year reinsurance program for its health insurance marketplace beginning in 2018. The state-operated program will cover claims for people with any of 33 high-cost conditions to help stabilize premiums for healthier participants. In March, HHS Secretary Tom Price invited states to apply for Section 1332 wavier proposals that include high-risk pool/state-operated reinsurance programs. Under Section 1332 of the Affordable Care Act, states can apply for a waiver of certain ACA requirements but must demonstrate that the proposed waiver would provide access to quality health care that is at least as comprehensive and affordable as without the waiver, and coverage to at least a comparable number of residents. Alaska projects its reinsurance program will reduce premiums by 20% in 2018 and that more consumers may have coverage.