Virginia Code 38.2-6509: Choice
A. In accordance with § 1312(f)(2)(A) of the Federal Act, a qualified employer may either designate one or more qualified health plans from which its eligible employees may choose or designate any level of coverage to be made available to eligible employees through an Exchange.
Terms Used In Virginia Code 38.2-6509
- carrier: means an entity subject to the insurance laws and regulations of the Commonwealth and subject to the jurisdiction of the Commission that contracts or offers to contract to provide, deliver, arrange for, pay for, or reimburse any of the costs of health care services, including an insurer licensed to sell accident and sickness insurance, a health maintenance organization, a health services plan, a dental plan organization, a dental services plan, or any other entity providing a plan of health insurance, health benefits, or health care services. See Virginia Code 38.2-6500
- Exchange: means , as the context requires, either (i) the Division or (ii) the Virginia Health Benefit Exchange established pursuant to the provisions of this chapter and in accordance with § 1311(b) of the Federal Act, through which qualified health plans and qualified dental plans are made available to qualified individuals through the American Health Benefit Exchange and to qualified employers through the SHOP exchange. See Virginia Code 38.2-6500
- Federal Act: means the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, P. See Virginia Code 38.2-6500
- plan: means a policy, contract, certificate, or agreement offered or issued by a health carrier to provide, deliver, arrange for, pay for, or reimburse any of the costs of health care services. See Virginia Code 38.2-6500
- Qualified dental plan: means a limited scope dental plan that has been certified in accordance with § Virginia Code 38.2-6500
- Qualified employer: means a small employer that elects to make all of its full-time employees eligible for one or more qualified health plans or qualified dental plans in the small group market offered through the SHOP exchange and, at the employer's option, some or all of its part-time employees, provided that the employer (i) has its principal place of business in the Commonwealth and elects to provide coverage through the SHOP exchange to all of its eligible employees, wherever employed, or (ii) elects to provide coverage through the SHOP exchange to all of its eligible employees who are principally employed in the Commonwealth. See Virginia Code 38.2-6500
- Qualified health plan: means a health benefit plan that has in effect a certification that the plan meets the criteria for certification described in § 1311(c) of the Federal Act and § Virginia Code 38.2-6500
- Qualified individual: means an individual, including a minor, who (i) is seeking to enroll in a qualified health plan or qualified dental plan offered to individuals through the Exchange; (ii) resides in the Commonwealth; (iii) is not incarcerated at the time of enrollment, other than incarceration pending the disposition of charges; and (iv) is, and is reasonably expected to be, for the entire period for which enrollment is sought, a citizen or a national of the United States or an alien lawfully present in the United States. See Virginia Code 38.2-6500
- State: means any commonwealth, state, territory, district or insular possession of the United States. See Virginia Code 38.2-100
B. In accordance with § 1312(b) of the Federal Act, a qualified individual enrolled in any qualified health plan may pay any applicable premium owed by such individual to the health carrier issuing such qualified health plan.
C. In accordance with § 1312(d) of the Federal Act:
1. This section shall not prohibit:
a. A health carrier from offering outside of an Exchange a health benefit plan to a qualified individual or qualified employer; or
b. A qualified individual from enrolling in, or a qualified employer from selecting for its eligible employees, a health benefit plan offered outside of an Exchange; and
2. This section shall not limit the operation of any requirement under state law or regulation with respect to any policy or plan that is offered outside of the Exchange with respect to any requirement to offer benefits.
D. Nothing in this section shall restrict the choice of a qualified individual to enroll or not to enroll in a qualified health plan or to participate in an Exchange.
E. Nothing in this section shall compel an individual to enroll in a qualified health plan or to participate in an Exchange.
F. A qualified individual may enroll in any qualified health plan, except that in the case of a catastrophic plan described in § 1302(e) of the Federal Act, a qualified individual may enroll in the plan only if the individual is eligible to enroll in the plan under § 1302(e)(2) of the Federal Act.
G. In accordance with § 1312(e) of the Federal Act, the Exchange may, for a licensed agent who agrees to comply with regulatory requirements, including advance registration with the Exchange, completion of training, and adherence to privacy and security standards set by the Exchange, allow such licensed agents:
1. To enroll qualified individuals and qualified employers in any qualified health plan or any qualified dental plan offered through the Exchange for which the individual or employer is eligible; and
2. To assist qualified individuals in applying for premium tax credits and cost-sharing reductions for qualified health plans purchased through the Exchange.