Despite Extension of Plan Cancellation Policy, Little Impact Is Seen for Health Insurance Markets
<p>This week, the Obama administration announced that many Americans whose insurance policies were canceled recently will be able to keep their health plans for an additional two years, at the discretion of states. In a <a href="/blog/2014/impact-extending-policy-canceled-plans-likely-small">new blog post,</a> Commonwealth Fund Vice President Sara Collins says that while the extension carries some risks for the nation's newly regulated insurance markets, its ultimate effects are likely to be small. </p><p>Relatively few people are expected to stay in the substandard plans, which fail to meet the minimum benefit standards set by the Affordable Care Act. That's partly because 21 states and the District of Columbia decided not to allow these plans to extend policies, or have limited their ability to do so, Collins writes. And although a somewhat less healthy risk pool for ACA-compliant plans may increase premiums, the law's risk-sharing programs for insurers should help ensure increases are limited. </p>
<p>Visit <a href="/blog/2014/impact-extending-policy-canceled-plans-likely-small">The Commonwealth Fund Blog</a> for the complete post. </p>