Title 42 › Chapter CHAPTER 157— - QUALITY, AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE FOR ALL AMERICANS › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER III— - AVAILABLE COVERAGE CHOICES FOR ALL AMERICANS › Part Part B— - Consumer Choices and Insurance Competition Through Health Benefit Exchanges › § 18031
The federal government must give money to the Secretary so the Secretary can give grants to States to help them set up American Health Benefit Exchanges. Those grants had to be awarded within one year after March 23, 2010, and the Secretary decides how much each State gets each year. States must use the money to plan and build Exchanges. Grants can be renewed if a State is making progress, but no new grants can be given after January 1, 2015. The Secretary will also help States get small businesses into SHOP Exchanges. Each State must create an Exchange by January 1, 2014. An Exchange must help people and small employers buy certified “qualified health plans,” run a SHOP for small employers, and follow rules about plan quality, consumer information, and enrollment. The Secretary sets the rules for certifying plans, which include limits on marketing, provider access, accreditation, quality reporting, a single enrollment form, and public quality ratings and consumer satisfaction scores. Exchanges must run a toll-free helpline and website, show plan comparisons and ratings, run open and special enrollment periods, screen and enroll people into Medicaid/CHIP when eligible, provide a cost calculator for subsidies, and keep records the Treasury needs. Exchanges must be set up as a state government agency or nonprofit and become self-supporting by January 1, 2015 (for example by charging fees). They must avoid wasting funds and must consult consumers, providers, small business reps, Medicaid offices, and community advocates. Exchanges can operate across States with approval. They must require plans to explain big premium increases and to publicly share data like claims, finances, enrollments, denials, and cost-sharing in plain language. Starting January 1, 2015, plans may only contract with hospitals over 50 beds if those hospitals use patient safety systems and good discharge programs, unless the Secretary allows exceptions. Exchanges must run a Navigator program that gives grants to trusted groups to help people learn about, enroll in, and get help with plans; navigators cannot be insurance companies or take money from insurers. Finally, qualified health plans must follow certain federal disclosure rules, and Exchanges cannot make rules that conflict with the Secretary’s regulations.
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The Public Health and Welfare — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
Legislative History
Reference
Citation
42 U.S.C. § 18031
Title 42 — The Public Health and Welfare
Last Updated
Apr 6, 2026
Release point: 119-73