The Department of Health and Human Services announced new regulations to help states establish health insurance exchanges – state-based competitive marketplaces where individuals and small businesses will be able to purchase affordable private health insurance.

With the goal of helping states implement exchanges by 2014, HHS intends to set standards for setting up exchanges and to detail how to establish a Small Business Health Options Program (SHIOP), and to ensure premium stability for plans and enrollees in the exchange. The proposed rules set minimum standards for exchanges, give states the flexibility they need to design exchanges that best fit their unique insurance markets.

HHS is accepting public comment on the proposed rules over the next 75 days to learn from states, consumers, and other stakeholders how the rules can be improved and will hence modify these proposals based on the feedback. HHS is accepting public comment on the proposed rules over the next 75 days to learn from states, consumers, and other stakeholders how the rules can be improved and HHS will modify these proposals based on feedback.

Click here to read the regulations.