RI Section 1332 State Innovation Waiver and Reinsurance Program

Background/Introduction

Governor Raimondo included in her 2020 budget a state reinsurance program designed to maintain the stability of the individual market and to protect the coverage gains achieved through the Affordable Care Act. The reinsurance program would mitigate premium increases beginning in 2020. The General Assembly passed and the Governor enacted the budget on July 5, 2019.

On July 8, 2019 the State of Rhode Island submitted a Section 1332 State Innovation Waiver Application and supporting appendices to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), a division of the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and the Department of the Treasury. The application seeks to waive certain requirements of the ACA with the goal of implementing a state reinsurance program in order to lower premiums in the individual market.

Proposed Rules and Regulations Pertaining to the Rhode Island Reinsurance Program

We are pleased to announce the State of Rhode Island is seeking public comment on its proposed Rules and Regulations Pertaining to Rhode Island Reinsurance Program.

These rules and regulations will, in part, govern the information carriers are required to submit to the Reinsurance Program, specify how reinsurance payment parameters will be determined and reinsurance payments made, establish the duties of the administrator, and provide for document retention requirements and program oversight.

All interested parties are invited to request additional information or submit written or oral comments concerning the proposed adoption until August 23, 2019.

For more information or to view proposed rule visit the below link:

Public Notice of Proposed Rulemaking

Proposed Rules and Regulations Pertaining to Rhode Island Reinsurance Program

Rhode Island Application for Section 1332 Waiver

Rhode Island’s submitted Section 1332 Waiver Application can be found here:

1332 Waiver Application

Rhode Island’s draft application can be found here:

Public Comment Application Draft

Public Comment Period 

The State of Rhode Island accepted public comments on Rhode Island’s 1332 Waiver Draft Application beginning April 26, 2019, through May 25, 2019.

Comments were accepted via electronic mail and by postal mail.

Public Hearings

In compliance with Federal regulations, the State of Rhode Island held two public hearings on Rhode Island’s proposed 1332 Waiver Application.

• The first public hearing was held May 10, 2019 from 1:00pm – 3:00pm at the following location:

Department of Administration
Conference Room B, 1 Capitol Hill
Providence, RI 02908

• The second public hearing was held May 20, 2019 from 9:00am – 11:00am at the following location:

Department of Labor and Training
Conference Room, 1511 Pontiac Ave.
Cranston, RI 02920

Reinsurance Waiver Annual Reports

2021 Revised Report

2020 Report