Signed by Governor Butch Otter

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that establishes the Idaho Health Insurance Exchange.

Highlights:

• Establishes the Idaho Health Insurance Exchange as a voluntary marketplace to facilitate the selection and purchase of health care plans by individuals, employers, and employees (Sec. 1).

• Requires the Idaho Health Insurance Exchange to be financially self-supporting and prohibits the Exchange from requesting financial support from the state (Sec. 1).

• Specifies that the Idaho Health Insurance Exchange is not a state agency and will be overseen by an independent board of directors consisting of the following (Sec. 1):
• 14 voting members appointed by the governor;
• 3 voting members of the legislature; and
• The directors of the Department of Insurance and Department of Health and Welfare as nonvoting members.

• Requires the board of directors to enter into contracts with businesses in Idaho to provide support for the Idaho Health Insurance Exchange to the “fullest extent” possible (Sec. 1).

• Prohibits the exchange or state of Idaho from the following actions (Sec. 1):
• Requiring an individual, insurer, or company to participate in the exchange; 
• Collecting a penalty for failure to participate in the exchange; and
• Requiring an individual, insurer, or company to purchase a health benefit plan or stand-alone dental plan.
• Specifies that if any section of the Affordable Care Act is declared unconstitutional, the Idaho Health Insurance Exchange shall immediately cease enforcing the affected provisions (Sec. 1).

• Establishes that this bill is effective immediately upon passage, unless the federal establishment date required for health exchanges set in the Affordable Care Act is changed (Sec. 2).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that establishes the Idaho Health Insurance Exchange.

Highlights:

• Establishes the Idaho Health Insurance Exchange as a voluntary marketplace to facilitate the selection and purchase of health care plans by individuals, employers, and employees (Sec. 1).

• Requires the Idaho Health Insurance Exchange to be financially self-supporting and prohibits the Exchange from requesting financial support from the state (Sec. 1).

• Specifies that the Idaho Health Insurance Exchange is not a state agency and will be overseen by an independent board of directors consisting of the following (Sec. 1):
• 14 voting members appointed by the governor;
• 3 voting members of the legislature; and
• The directors of the Department of Insurance and Department of Health and Welfare as nonvoting members.

• Requires the board of directors to enter into contracts with businesses in Idaho to provide support for the Idaho Health Insurance Exchange to the “fullest extent” possible (Sec. 1).

• Prohibits the exchange or state of Idaho from the following actions (Sec. 1):
• Requiring an individual, insurer, or company to participate in the exchange; 
• Collecting a penalty for failure to participate in the exchange; and
• Requiring an individual, insurer, or company to purchase a health benefit plan or stand-alone dental plan.
• Specifies that if any section of the Affordable Care Act is declared unconstitutional, the Idaho Health Insurance Exchange shall immediately cease enforcing the affected provisions (Sec. 1).

• Establishes that this bill is effective immediately upon passage, unless the federal establishment date required for health exchanges set in the Affordable Care Act is changed (Sec. 2).

Full Bill Text