By JoAnn Volk, Sabrina Corlette, and Justin Giovannelli
On September 4, 2025, the U.S. Division of Well being and Human Companies (HHS) launched steerage increasing eligibility for catastrophic well being plans. These plans have been created by the Reasonably priced Care Act (ACA) and are presently accessible to a narrowly outlined universe of people based mostly on age and particular circumstances, and are designed to offer primary safety from catastrophic well being prices. Noting a necessity to assist folks “deal with the numerous rise in medical insurance premiums,” HHS’ steerage considerably expands the universe of people eligible for these plans, with potential implications for shoppers’ entry to premium tax credit, states’ particular person insurance coverage markets, and premiums for each catastrophic and particular person market “steel degree” (bronze, silver, gold and platinum) plans.
Of their newest Professional Perspective for the Robert Wooden Johnson Basis’s State Well being & Worth Methods program, CHIR’s JoAnn Volk, Sabrina Corlette, and Justin Giovannelli assessment HHS’ new steerage and assess the implications for shoppers, insurance coverage markets, and state insurance coverage regulators. You’ll be able to learn the complete submit right here.