A report from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, developed as part of its Affordable Care Act (ACA) Implementation - Monitoring and Tracking Series, examines how 10 featured states have approached implementation of the ACA’s early insurance market reforms. Often referred to as the “Patient Bill of Rights,” these reforms include important consumer protections, such as prohibiting lifetime dollar limits on essential health benefits, prohibiting the denial of coverage for children based on a preexisting condition, and requiring coverage of certain preventive services without cost-sharing, among others.

Prepared by researchers at Georgetown University Health Policy Institute’s Center on Health Insurance Reforms, the report finds that although fewer than half of the states passed new legislation regarding the early market reforms, the reforms are being implemented in all 10 states with the encouragement and efforts of state officials, insurers and consumer advocates. Although some challenges were noted, all 10 states reported that insurers are generally complying with the early market reforms; regulators are hearing few consumer concerns regarding the early market reforms; and premiums have not risen substantially because of these reforms. The authors conclude that, to a large extent, the actions taken by these states reflect the diversity of approaches that exist among states nationwide.    

This report is one of a series papers focusing on ACA implementation issues uncovered in Alabama, Colorado, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island and Virginia.