HHS Delays Launch of ACA Program To Cover Low-, Moderate-Income Individuals Until 2015

February 8, 2013 — The Obama administration on Wednesday announced that implementation of the Basic Health Program -- created by the Affordable Care Act (PL 111-148) to extend coverage to low- and moderate-income families who do not qualify for Medicaid -- has been delayed until 2015, one year later than scheduled in the ACA, Kaiser Health News' "Capsules" reports.

Under the program, some states planned to provide public health insurance coverage to individuals who are not eligible for Medicaid, but still would face difficulty -- even with federal assistance -- affording the premiums and cost-sharing in plans that will be available in the ACA's insurance marketplaces, according to "Capsules." Individuals with annual incomes up to two times the federal poverty level -- or about $47,000 for a family of four -- will be eligible.

HHS officials said they do not have enough time to issue the guidelines necessary to launch the program in 2014. The department now plans to release a proposed rule for public comment later this year, finalize the rules in 2014 and implement the program in 2015.

HHS said it will seek to help states continue to offer coverage to low-income residents who are ineligible for Medicaid (Galewitz, "Capsules," Kaiser Health News, 2/7).