How the Affordable Care Act Impacted the Individual Market
Health Payer Intelligence March 9, 2020
The passing of the Affordable Care Act in 2012 shook up the individual health insurance marketplace and eight years later, the market is still feeling its impact.
Reforming the Affordable Care Act (ACA) has had lasting impacts on the individual health insurance market. Intending to reshape a dysfunctional system, the ACA included incentives for insurers to manage risk and competition fairly, regardless of an individual’s income or medical history.
But changes in policy and administration caused enrollment, premium rates, and insurer participation to fluctuate over time. Because the individual market serves as a safety net for nearly 17 million Americans who are between jobs, in early retirement, or underinsured, consistency and accessibility of these plans is critical.
A market evolution...