Yes. HHS will operate the Federally-Facilitated and State Partnership Exchange call center and website, and personnel will be trained on relevant state insurance laws and Medicaid and CHIP eligibility standards so that they can advise consumers. In a state operating in a State Partnership Exchange, a state will be responsible for the day-to-day management of the Exchange Navigators and the development and management of another separate in-person assistance program, and may elect to conduct additional outreach and educational activities.

To fund the operation of the Federally-Facilitated Exchange, we proposed for comment in the draft Payment Notice that participating issuers pay a monthly user fee to support the operation of the Federally-Facilitated Exchange. For the 2014 benefit year, we proposed a monthly user fee rate that is aligned with rates charged by State-Based Exchanges.

Yes in certain circumstances. HHS expects that states supporting the development of a Federally-Facilitated Exchange may choose to seek section 1311(a) Exchange Establishment cooperative agreement funding for activities including, but not limited to:

The introduction of Exchanges and the insurance market rules in 2014 will help promote competition based on quality and cost since consumers will have an unprecedented ability to compare similar products from different issuers and will be assured the right to purchase these products, regardless of their health condition.

In section 156.100 of the proposed rule on Essential Health Benefits/Actuarial Value/Accreditation, we propose criteria for the selection process for a state that chooses to select a benchmark plan. The essential health benefits benchmark plan would serve as a reference plan, reflecting both the scope of services and limits offered by a typical employer plan in that state.

The U.S. Office of Personal Management released a proposed rule implementing the Multi-State Plan Program on November 30, 2012. To ensure that the Multi-State Plans are competing on a level playing field with other plans in the marketplace, the proposed regulation largely defers to state insurance law and the standards promulgated by HHS and states related to qualified health plans.

The U.S. Office of Personal Management released a proposed rule implementing the Multi-State Plan Program on November 30, 2012. To ensure that the Multi-State Plans are competing on a level playing field with other plans in the marketplace, the proposed regulation largely defers to state insurance law and the standards promulgated by HHS and states related to qualified health plans.

Yes. HHS has received questions about whether a state could allow an issuer that contracts with a state Medicaid agency as a Medicaid managed care organization to offer qualified health plans in the Exchange on a limited-enrollment basis to certain populations. This type of limited offering would permit the qualified health plan to serve as a "bridge" plan between Medicaid/CHIP coverage and private insurance.

Under the Affordable Care Act, coverage for persons under the Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan program (whether federally-run or state-run in a state) will generally not extend beyond January 1, 2014, which is when all individuals will be able to access coverage without any pre-existing condition exclusions in the individual market.

Education and outreach are high priorities for implementing the changes coming in 2014. HHS plans to conduct outreach to consumers in a variety of ways, including the Navigator program, in-person assistance, the internet, and call centers. States and other stakeholders definitely will be able to provide input in developing its outreach approach to consumers.