<section xmlns="http://xml.house.gov/schemas/uslm/1.0" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:dcterms="http://purl.org/dc/terms/" style="-uslm-lc:I80" id="idd94c0cd2-406b-11eb-bd25-fd7436c081d8" identifier="/us/usc/t42/s18032"><num value="18032">§ 18032.</num><heading> Consumer choice</heading><subsection style="-uslm-lc:I19" class="indent2 firstIndent-2" id="idd94c0cd3-406b-11eb-bd25-fd7436c081d8" identifier="/us/usc/t42/s18032/a"><num value="a" class="bold">(a)</num><heading class="bold"> Choice</heading><paragraph style="-uslm-lc:I79" class="indent3 firstIndent-2" id="idd94c0cd4-406b-11eb-bd25-fd7436c081d8" identifier="/us/usc/t42/s18032/a/1"><num value="1" class="bold">(1)</num><heading class="bold"> Qualified individuals</heading><content><p style="-uslm-lc:I12" class="indent1">A qualified individual may enroll in any qualified health plan available to such individual and for which such individual is eligible.</p>
</content>
</paragraph>
<paragraph style="-uslm-lc:I79" class="indent3 firstIndent-2" id="idd94c0cd5-406b-11eb-bd25-fd7436c081d8" identifier="/us/usc/t42/s18032/a/2"><num value="2" class="bold">(2)</num><heading class="bold"> Qualified employers</heading><subparagraph style="-uslm-lc:I18" class="indent4 firstIndent-2" id="idd94c0cd6-406b-11eb-bd25-fd7436c081d8" identifier="/us/usc/t42/s18032/a/2/A"><num value="A" class="bold">(A)</num><heading class="bold"> Employer may specify level</heading><content><p style="-uslm-lc:I13" class="indent2">A qualified employer may provide support for coverage of employees under a qualified health plan by selecting any level of coverage under <ref href="/us/usc/t42/s18022/d">section 18022(d) of this title</ref> to be made available to employees through an Exchange.</p>
</content>
</subparagraph>
<subparagraph style="-uslm-lc:I18" class="indent4 firstIndent-2" id="idd94c0cd7-406b-11eb-bd25-fd7436c081d8" identifier="/us/usc/t42/s18032/a/2/B"><num value="B" class="bold">(B)</num><heading class="bold"> Employee may choose plans within a level</heading><content><p style="-uslm-lc:I13" class="indent2">Each employee of a qualified employer that elects a level of coverage under subparagraph (A) may choose to enroll in a qualified health plan that offers coverage at that level.</p>
</content>
</subparagraph>
</paragraph>
</subsection>
<subsection style="-uslm-lc:I19" class="indent2 firstIndent-2" id="idd94c0cd8-406b-11eb-bd25-fd7436c081d8" identifier="/us/usc/t42/s18032/b"><num value="b" class="bold">(b)</num><heading class="bold"> Payment of premiums by qualified individuals</heading><content><p style="-uslm-lc:I11" class="indent0">A qualified individual enrolled in any qualified health plan may pay any applicable premium owed by such individual to the health insurance issuer issuing such qualified health plan.</p>
</content>
</subsection>
<subsection style="-uslm-lc:I19" class="indent2 firstIndent-2" id="idd94c0cd9-406b-11eb-bd25-fd7436c081d8" identifier="/us/usc/t42/s18032/c"><num value="c" class="bold">(c)</num><heading class="bold"> Single risk pool</heading><paragraph style="-uslm-lc:I79" class="indent3 firstIndent-2" id="idd94c0cda-406b-11eb-bd25-fd7436c081d8" identifier="/us/usc/t42/s18032/c/1"><num value="1" class="bold">(1)</num><heading class="bold"> Individual market</heading><content><p style="-uslm-lc:I12" class="indent1">A health insurance issuer shall consider all enrollees in all health plans (other than grandfathered health plans) offered by such issuer in the individual market, including those enrollees who do not enroll in such plans through the Exchange, to be members of a single risk pool.</p>
</content>
</paragraph>
<paragraph style="-uslm-lc:I79" class="indent3 firstIndent-2" id="idd94c0cdb-406b-11eb-bd25-fd7436c081d8" identifier="/us/usc/t42/s18032/c/2"><num value="2" class="bold">(2)</num><heading class="bold"> Small group market</heading><content><p style="-uslm-lc:I12" class="indent1">A health insurance issuer shall consider all enrollees in all health plans (other than grandfathered health plans) offered by such issuer in the small group market, including those enrollees who do not enroll in such plans through the Exchange, to be members of a single risk pool.</p>
</content>
</paragraph>
<paragraph style="-uslm-lc:I79" class="indent3 firstIndent-2" id="idd94c0cdc-406b-11eb-bd25-fd7436c081d8" identifier="/us/usc/t42/s18032/c/3"><num value="3" class="bold">(3)</num><heading class="bold"> Merger of markets</heading><content><p style="-uslm-lc:I12" class="indent1">A State may require the individual and small group insurance markets within a State to be merged if the State determines appropriate.</p>
</content>
</paragraph>
<paragraph style="-uslm-lc:I79" class="indent3 firstIndent-2" id="idd94c0cdd-406b-11eb-bd25-fd7436c081d8" identifier="/us/usc/t42/s18032/c/4"><num value="4" class="bold">(4)</num><heading class="bold"> State law</heading><content><p style="-uslm-lc:I12" class="indent1">A State law requiring grandfathered health plans to be included in a pool described in paragraph (1) or (2) shall not apply.</p>
</content>
</paragraph>
</subsection>
<subsection style="-uslm-lc:I19" class="indent2 firstIndent-2" id="idd94c0cde-406b-11eb-bd25-fd7436c081d8" identifier="/us/usc/t42/s18032/d"><num value="d" class="bold">(d)</num><heading class="bold"> Empowering consumer choice</heading><paragraph style="-uslm-lc:I79" class="indent3 firstIndent-2" id="idd94c0cdf-406b-11eb-bd25-fd7436c081d8" identifier="/us/usc/t42/s18032/d/1"><num value="1" class="bold">(1)</num><heading class="bold"> Continued operation of market outside Exchanges</heading><chapeau style="-uslm-lc:I12" class="indent1">Nothing in this title <ref class="footnoteRef" idref="fn004217">1</ref><note type="footnote" id="fn004217"><num>1</num> See References in Text note below.</note> shall be construed to prohibit—</chapeau><subparagraph style="-uslm-lc:I13" class="indent2" id="idd94c0ce0-406b-11eb-bd25-fd7436c081d8" identifier="/us/usc/t42/s18032/d/1/A"><num value="A">(A)</num><content> a health insurance issuer from offering outside of an Exchange a health plan to a qualified individual or qualified employer; and</content>
</subparagraph>
<subparagraph style="-uslm-lc:I13" class="indent2" id="idd94c0ce1-406b-11eb-bd25-fd7436c081d8" identifier="/us/usc/t42/s18032/d/1/B"><num value="B">(B)</num><content> a qualified individual from enrolling in, or a qualified employer from selecting for its employees, a health plan offered outside of an Exchange.</content>
</subparagraph>
</paragraph>
<paragraph style="-uslm-lc:I79" class="indent3 firstIndent-2" id="idd94c0ce2-406b-11eb-bd25-fd7436c081d8" identifier="/us/usc/t42/s18032/d/2"><num value="2" class="bold">(2)</num><heading class="bold"> Continued operation of State benefit requirements</heading><content><p style="-uslm-lc:I12" class="indent1">Nothing in this title <sup>1</sup> shall be construed to terminate, abridge, or limit the operation of any requirement under State law with respect to any policy or plan that is offered outside of an Exchange to offer benefits.</p>
</content>
</paragraph>
<paragraph style="-uslm-lc:I79" class="indent3 firstIndent-2" id="idd94c0ce3-406b-11eb-bd25-fd7436c081d8" identifier="/us/usc/t42/s18032/d/3"><num value="3" class="bold">(3)</num><heading class="bold"> Voluntary nature of an Exchange</heading><subparagraph style="-uslm-lc:I18" class="indent4 firstIndent-2" id="idd94c0ce4-406b-11eb-bd25-fd7436c081d8" identifier="/us/usc/t42/s18032/d/3/A"><num value="A" class="bold">(A)</num><heading class="bold"> Choice to enroll or not to enroll</heading><content><p style="-uslm-lc:I13" class="indent2">Nothing in this title <sup>1</sup> shall be construed to restrict the choice of a qualified individual to enroll or not to enroll in a qualified health plan or to participate in an Exchange.</p>
</content>
</subparagraph>
<subparagraph style="-uslm-lc:I18" class="indent4 firstIndent-2" id="idd94c0ce5-406b-11eb-bd25-fd7436c081d8" identifier="/us/usc/t42/s18032/d/3/B"><num value="B" class="bold">(B)</num><heading class="bold"> Prohibition against compelled enrollment</heading><content><p style="-uslm-lc:I13" class="indent2">Nothing in this title <sup>1</sup> shall be construed to compel an individual to enroll in a qualified health plan or to participate in an Exchange.</p>
</content>
</subparagraph>
<subparagraph style="-uslm-lc:I18" class="indent4 firstIndent-2" id="idd94c0ce6-406b-11eb-bd25-fd7436c081d8" identifier="/us/usc/t42/s18032/d/3/C"><num value="C" class="bold">(C)</num><heading class="bold"> Individuals allowed to enroll in any plan</heading><content><p style="-uslm-lc:I13" class="indent2">A qualified individual may enroll in any qualified health plan, except that in the case of a catastrophic plan described in <ref href="/us/usc/t42/s18022/e">section 18022(e) of this title</ref>, a qualified individual may enroll in the plan only if the individual is eligible to enroll in the plan under <ref href="/us/usc/t42/s18022/e/2">section 18022(e)(2) of this title</ref>.</p>
</content>
</subparagraph>
<subparagraph style="-uslm-lc:I18" class="indent4 firstIndent-2" id="idd94c0ce7-406b-11eb-bd25-fd7436c081d8" identifier="/us/usc/t42/s18032/d/3/D"><num value="D" class="bold">(D)</num><heading class="bold"> Members of Congress in the Exchange</heading><clause style="-uslm-lc:I77" class="indent5 firstIndent-2" id="idd94c0ce8-406b-11eb-bd25-fd7436c081d8" identifier="/us/usc/t42/s18032/d/3/D/i"><num value="i" class="bold">(i)</num><heading class="bold"> Requirement</heading><chapeau style="-uslm-lc:I14" class="indent3">Notwithstanding any other provision of law, after the effective date of this subtitle, the only health plans that the Federal Government may make available to Members of Congress and congressional staff with respect to their service as a Member of Congress or congressional staff shall be health plans that are—</chapeau><subclause style="-uslm-lc:I16" class="indent4" id="idd94c0ce9-406b-11eb-bd25-fd7436c081d8" identifier="/us/usc/t42/s18032/d/3/D/i/I"><num value="I">(I)</num><content> created under this Act (or an amendment made by this Act); or</content>
</subclause>
<subclause style="-uslm-lc:I16" class="indent4" id="idd94c0cea-406b-11eb-bd25-fd7436c081d8" identifier="/us/usc/t42/s18032/d/3/D/i/II"><num value="II">(II)</num><content> offered through an Exchange established under this Act (or an amendment made by this Act).</content>
</subclause>
</clause>
<clause style="-uslm-lc:I77" class="indent5 firstIndent-2" id="idd94c0ceb-406b-11eb-bd25-fd7436c081d8" identifier="/us/usc/t42/s18032/d/3/D/ii"><num value="ii" class="bold">(ii)</num><heading class="bold"> Definitions</heading><chapeau style="-uslm-lc:I14" class="indent3">In this section:</chapeau><subclause style="-uslm-lc:I72" class="indent6 firstIndent-2" id="idd94c0cec-406b-11eb-bd25-fd7436c081d8" identifier="/us/usc/t42/s18032/d/3/D/ii/I"><num value="I" class="bold">(I)</num><heading class="bold"> Member of Congress</heading><content><p style="-uslm-lc:I16" class="indent4">The term “Member of Congress” means any member of the House of Representatives or the Senate.</p>
</content>
</subclause>
<subclause style="-uslm-lc:I72" class="indent6 firstIndent-2" id="idd94c0ced-406b-11eb-bd25-fd7436c081d8" identifier="/us/usc/t42/s18032/d/3/D/ii/II"><num value="II" class="bold">(II)</num><heading class="bold"> Congressional staff</heading><content><p style="-uslm-lc:I16" class="indent4">The term “congressional staff” means all full-time and part-time employees employed by the official office of a Member of Congress, whether in Washington, DC or outside of Washington, DC.</p>
</content>
</subclause>
</clause>
</subparagraph>
</paragraph>
<paragraph style="-uslm-lc:I79" class="indent3 firstIndent-2" id="idd94c0cee-406b-11eb-bd25-fd7436c081d8" identifier="/us/usc/t42/s18032/d/4"><num value="4" class="bold">(4)</num><heading class="bold"> No penalty for transferring to minimum essential coverage outside Exchange</heading><content><p style="-uslm-lc:I12" class="indent1">An Exchange, or a qualified health plan offered through an Exchange, shall not impose any penalty or other fee on an individual who cancels enrollment in a plan because the individual becomes eligible for minimum essential coverage (as defined in <ref href="/us/usc/t26/s5000A/f">section 5000A(f) of title 26</ref> without regard to paragraph (1)(C) or (D) thereof) or such coverage becomes affordable (within the meaning of section 36B(c)(2)(C) of such title).</p>
</content>
</paragraph>
</subsection>
<subsection style="-uslm-lc:I19" class="indent2 firstIndent-2" id="idd94c0cef-406b-11eb-bd25-fd7436c081d8" identifier="/us/usc/t42/s18032/e"><num value="e" class="bold">(e)</num><heading class="bold"> Enrollment through agents or brokers</heading><chapeau style="-uslm-lc:I11" class="indent0">The Secretary shall establish procedures under which a State may allow agents or brokers—</chapeau><paragraph style="-uslm-lc:I12" class="indent1" id="idd94c0cf0-406b-11eb-bd25-fd7436c081d8" identifier="/us/usc/t42/s18032/e/1"><num value="1">(1)</num><content> to enroll individuals and employers in any qualified health plans in the individual or small group market as soon as the plan is offered through an Exchange in the State; and</content>
</paragraph>
<paragraph style="-uslm-lc:I12" class="indent1" id="idd94c0cf1-406b-11eb-bd25-fd7436c081d8" identifier="/us/usc/t42/s18032/e/2"><num value="2">(2)</num><content> to assist individuals in applying for premium tax credits and cost-sharing reductions for plans sold through an Exchange.</content>
</paragraph>
</subsection>
<subsection style="-uslm-lc:I19" class="indent2 firstIndent-2" id="idd94c0cf2-406b-11eb-bd25-fd7436c081d8" identifier="/us/usc/t42/s18032/f"><num value="f" class="bold">(f)</num><heading class="bold"> Qualified individuals and employers; access limited to citizens and lawful residents</heading><paragraph style="-uslm-lc:I79" class="indent3 firstIndent-2" id="idd94c0cf3-406b-11eb-bd25-fd7436c081d8" identifier="/us/usc/t42/s18032/f/1"><num value="1" class="bold">(1)</num><heading class="bold"> Qualified individuals</heading><chapeau style="-uslm-lc:I12" class="indent1">In this title: <sup>1</sup></chapeau><subparagraph style="-uslm-lc:I18" class="indent4 firstIndent-2" id="idd94c0cf4-406b-11eb-bd25-fd7436c081d8" identifier="/us/usc/t42/s18032/f/1/A"><num value="A" class="bold">(A)</num><heading class="bold"> In general</heading><chapeau style="-uslm-lc:I13" class="indent2">The term “qualified individual” means, with respect to an Exchange, an individual who—</chapeau><clause style="-uslm-lc:I14" class="indent3" id="idd94c0cf5-406b-11eb-bd25-fd7436c081d8" identifier="/us/usc/t42/s18032/f/1/A/i"><num value="i">(i)</num><content> is seeking to enroll in a qualified health plan in the individual market offered through the Exchange; and</content>
</clause>
<clause style="-uslm-lc:I14" class="indent3" id="idd94c0cf6-406b-11eb-bd25-fd7436c081d8" identifier="/us/usc/t42/s18032/f/1/A/ii"><num value="ii">(ii)</num><content> resides in the State that established the Exchange.</content>
</clause>
</subparagraph>
<subparagraph style="-uslm-lc:I18" class="indent4 firstIndent-2" id="idd94c0cf7-406b-11eb-bd25-fd7436c081d8" identifier="/us/usc/t42/s18032/f/1/B"><num value="B" class="bold">(B)</num><heading class="bold"> Incarcerated individuals excluded</heading><content><p style="-uslm-lc:I13" class="indent2">An individual shall not be treated as a qualified individual if, at the time of enrollment, the individual is incarcerated, other than incarceration pending the disposition of charges.</p>
</content>
</subparagraph>
</paragraph>
<paragraph style="-uslm-lc:I79" class="indent3 firstIndent-2" id="idd94c0cf8-406b-11eb-bd25-fd7436c081d8" identifier="/us/usc/t42/s18032/f/2"><num value="2" class="bold">(2)</num><heading class="bold"> Qualified employer</heading><chapeau style="-uslm-lc:I12" class="indent1">In this title: <sup>1</sup></chapeau><subparagraph style="-uslm-lc:I18" class="indent4 firstIndent-2" id="idd94c0cf9-406b-11eb-bd25-fd7436c081d8" identifier="/us/usc/t42/s18032/f/2/A"><num value="A" class="bold">(A)</num><heading class="bold"> In general</heading><content><p style="-uslm-lc:I13" class="indent2">The term “qualified employer” means a small employer that elects to make all full-time employees of such employer eligible for 1 or more qualified health plans offered in the small group market through an Exchange that offers qualified health plans.</p>
</content>
</subparagraph>
<subparagraph style="-uslm-lc:I18" class="indent4 firstIndent-2" id="idd94c0cfa-406b-11eb-bd25-fd7436c081d8" identifier="/us/usc/t42/s18032/f/2/B"><num value="B" class="bold">(B)</num><heading class="bold"> Extension to large groups</heading><clause style="-uslm-lc:I77" class="indent5 firstIndent-2" id="idd94c0cfb-406b-11eb-bd25-fd7436c081d8" identifier="/us/usc/t42/s18032/f/2/B/i"><num value="i" class="bold">(i)</num><heading class="bold"> In general</heading><content><p style="-uslm-lc:I14" class="indent3">Beginning in 2017, each State may allow issuers of health insurance coverage in the large group market in the State to offer qualified health plans in such market through an Exchange. Nothing in this subparagraph shall be construed as requiring the issuer to offer such plans through an Exchange.</p>
</content>
</clause>
<clause style="-uslm-lc:I77" class="indent5 firstIndent-2" id="idd94c0cfc-406b-11eb-bd25-fd7436c081d8" identifier="/us/usc/t42/s18032/f/2/B/ii"><num value="ii" class="bold">(ii)</num><heading class="bold"> Large employers eligible</heading><content><p style="-uslm-lc:I14" class="indent3">If a State under clause (i) allows issuers to offer qualified health plans in the large group market through an Exchange, the term “qualified employer” shall include a large employer that elects to make all full-time employees of such employer eligible for 1 or more qualified health plans offered in the large group market through the Exchange.</p>
</content>
</clause>
</subparagraph>
</paragraph>
<paragraph style="-uslm-lc:I79" class="indent3 firstIndent-2" id="idd94c0cfd-406b-11eb-bd25-fd7436c081d8" identifier="/us/usc/t42/s18032/f/3"><num value="3" class="bold">(3)</num><heading class="bold"> Access limited to lawful residents</heading><content><p style="-uslm-lc:I12" class="indent1">If an individual is not, or is not reasonably expected to be for the entire period for which enrollment is sought, a citizen or national of the United States or an alien lawfully present in the United States, the individual shall not be treated as a qualified individual and may not be covered under a qualified health plan in the individual market that is offered through an Exchange.</p>
</content>
</paragraph>
</subsection>
<sourceCredit id="idd94c0cfe-406b-11eb-bd25-fd7436c081d8">(<ref href="/us/pl/111/148/tI/s1312">Pub. L. 111–148, title I, § 1312</ref>, title X, § 10104(i), <date date="2010-03-23">Mar. 23, 2010</date>, <ref href="/us/stat/124/182">124 Stat. 182</ref>, 901.)</sourceCredit>
<notes type="uscNote" id="idd94c0cff-406b-11eb-bd25-fd7436c081d8">
<note style="-uslm-lc:I75" topic="referencesInText" id="idd94c0d00-406b-11eb-bd25-fd7436c081d8">
<heading class="centered smallCaps">References in Text</heading><p style="-uslm-lc:I21" class="indent0">This title, referred to in subsecs. (d)(1), (2), (3)(A), (B) and (f)(1), (2), is title I of <ref href="/us/pl/111/148">Pub. L. 111–148</ref>, <date date="2010-03-23">Mar. 23, 2010</date>, <ref href="/us/stat/124/130">124 Stat. 130</ref>, which enacted this chapter and enacted, amended, and transferred numerous other sections and notes in the Code. For complete classification of title I to the Code, see Tables.</p>
<p style="-uslm-lc:I21" class="indent0">The effective date of this subtitle, referred to in subsec. (d)(3)(D)(i), is the effective date of subtitle D of title I of <ref href="/us/pl/111/148">Pub. L. 111–148</ref>, which is <date date="2010-03-23">Mar. 23, 2010</date>.</p>
<p style="-uslm-lc:I21" class="indent0">This Act, referred to in subsec. (d)(3)(D)(i), is <ref href="/us/pl/111/148">Pub. L. 111–148</ref>, <date date="2010-03-23">Mar. 23, 2010</date>, <ref href="/us/stat/124/119">124 Stat. 119</ref>, known as the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under <ref href="/us/usc/t42/s18001">section 18001 of this title</ref> and Tables.</p>
</note>
<note style="-uslm-lc:I74" topic="amendments" id="idd94c0d01-406b-11eb-bd25-fd7436c081d8"><heading class="centered smallCaps">Amendments</heading><p style="-uslm-lc:I21" class="indent0">2010—Subsec. (a)(1). <ref href="/us/pl/111/148/s10104/i/1">Pub. L. 111–148, § 10104(i)(1)</ref>, inserted “and for which such individual is eligible” before period at end.</p>
<p style="-uslm-lc:I21" class="indent0">Subsec. (e). <ref href="/us/pl/111/148/s10104/i/2/B">Pub. L. 111–148, § 10104(i)(2)(B)</ref>, struck out concluding provisions which read as follows: “Such procedures may include the establishment of rate schedules for broker commissions paid by health benefits plans offered through an exchange.”</p>
<p style="-uslm-lc:I21" class="indent0">Subsec. (e)(1). <ref href="/us/pl/111/148/s10104/i/2/A">Pub. L. 111–148, § 10104(i)(2)(A)</ref>, inserted “and employers” after “enroll individuals”.</p>
<p style="-uslm-lc:I21" class="indent0">Subsec. (f)(1)(A)(ii). <ref href="/us/pl/111/148/s10104/i/3">Pub. L. 111–148, § 10104(i)(3)</ref>, struck out “(except with respect to territorial agreements under this subsection)” before period at end.</p>
</note>
</notes>
</section>