Insurance Exchanges and Qualified Health Plans
Overview and Policy Updates
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) required health insurance exchanges (also known as marketplaces) to be established in every state and the District of Columbia. The ACA exchanges are virtual marketplaces in which consumers and small businesses can shop for and purchase private health insurance coverage and, where applicable, be connected to public health insurance programs (e.g., Medicaid). Certain consumers and small employers are eligible for financial assistance for private health insurance purchased through the exchanges. Exchanges are intended to simplify the experience of obtaining health insurance. They are not intended to supplant the private market outside of…
