Idaho Department of Insurance Opens Public Comment Period for Section 1332 State Innovation Waiver Application
Friday April 1, 2022Contact: Julie Robinson, 208-334-4312
julie.robinson@doi.idaho.gov
BOISE, ID (April 1, 2022) – The Idaho Department of Insurance is seeking public comment on its intent to apply to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and to the United States Department of the Treasury for a Section 1332 State Innovation waiver on or about May 2022. The state is submitting this section 1332 waiver to further increase affordability of individual health insurance in Idaho. The proposed effective date for the waiver is January 1, 2023. Public comments will be accepted until May 1, 2022.
The proposed waiver would be implemented primarily by the Idaho Individual High Risk Reinsurance Pool (“the Pool”), a state reinsurance program in which enrollees in individual coverage who are diagnosed with certain specified medical conditions are ceded to the Pool by the issuer. The Pool was created in 2000. From its inception, it has successfully paid over $164.6 million in claims for over 13,000 Idahoans with serious medical conditions.
“We anticipate that approval of this 1332 waiver will result in 2023 premiums that are at least 7% lower than they would be without the waiver, and that 7% reduction should be able to be maintained year over year,” said Dean Cameron, Director of the Idaho Department of Insurance. “This means reduced health insurance costs for Idahoans.”
As part of the waiver process, the Department submitted legislation to authorize the Department to submit the waiver application to the federal agencies and to condition the continuation of the state reinsurance program upon approval of the 1332 waiver. Governor Little signed the legislation, H611, on March 23, 2022.
The Department’s comprehensive public notice, Tribal notice and the waiver application are available on our website at https://doi.idaho.gov/information/public/reinsurance-waiver/. The Department is seeking public comment through public hearings, the interactive form available on the website, via fax, and email or traditional mail as indicated below. Public hearings will be held at the following locations:
| Boise Public Hearing (also virtual) | Idaho Falls Public Hearing | Coeur d’Alene Public Hearing |
| Location: Idaho Department of Insurance | Location: Idaho Department of Labor | Location: Coeur d’Alene Public Library |
| 700 W. State St. | 1515 E. Lincoln Rd. | 702 E. Front Ave. |
| JRW East Conference Room | Yellowstone Room | Community Room |
| Boise, ID 83702 | Idaho Falls, ID 83401 | Coeur d’Alene, ID 83814 |
| Date: April 18, 2022 | Date: April 20, 2022 | Date: April 26, 2022 |
| Time: 10:00AM – 12:00PM MT | Time: 2:30PM – 4:30PM MT | Time: 10:30AM – 12:30PM PT |
Webex Information: (Boise Date Only)
Link: https://idahogov.webex.com/idahogov/j.php?MTID=m1ca043b7088fac88c9be403e5254b9ba
Meeting Number (access code): 2456 145 7410
Password: WWiPiPNb685
Call In Number: 1-415-655-0001
Interested parties may also request hard copies of the waiver packet or submit comments via email or traditional USPS mail to:
Attention: Shannon Hohl
Market Oversight Bureau Chief
Department of Insurance
P.O. Box 83720; Boise, Idaho 83720-0043
E-mail to: DOI.Reform@doi.idaho.gov
About the Department of Insurance
The Idaho Department of Insurance has been regulating the business of insurance in Idaho since 1901. The mission of the Department is to serve and protect Idahoans by equitably, effectively and efficiently administering the Idaho Insurance Code and the International Fire Code. For more information, please visit us at doi.idaho.gov or email us at consumeraffairs@doi.idaho.gov>
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