HHS announced automatic reenrollment in marketplaces

The federal Department of Health and Human Services announced yesterday that individuals who signed up for coverage through state and federal exchanges will be re-enrolled automatically for coverage in 2015 (Source: “HHS announces auto-enrollment for current ACA consumers,” Modern Healthcare, June 26, 2014)

The HHS proposed rule reduces the likelihood that there will be a steep drop-off among the roughly 8 million individuals who signed up for private health plans during the 2014 open enrollment period. 

"They're trying to reduce disruptions in the marketplace by basically allowing people to do nothing and stay insured," said Caroline Pearson, a vice president at the consulting and research firm Avalere Health. "That avoids having people inadvertently fall out of coverage."

The rules were drafted in consultation with the National Association of Insurance Commissioners and other interested parties. HHS will be taking comments for 30 days before issuing a final rule.