CMS finalizes major changes to ACA exchanges, including greater access to catastrophic plans

Rebecca Pifer Parduhn / healthcaredive - The Trump administration continues to open the doors to the cheap, high-deductible coverage, to the worry of insurance experts and stakeholders in the healthcare industry.

AI Summary: In a sweeping final rule, CMS loosened constraints on ACA marketplace offerings to broaden consumer choice — including expanded access to catastrophic plans and relaxed limits on non-standard plan designs. The changes aim to reshape the 2027 exchanges, boost affordability and enrollment flexibility, and hand insurers new product wiggle room while regulators expect close scrutiny.

• CMS final rule loosens plan design, expands catastrophic access (4)
• Insurers exit and consumers pivot to cheaper alternatives (3)
• Rising costs and shrinking ACA enrollment threaten markets (4)

CMS final rule loosens plan design, expands catastrophic access

Insurers exit and consumers pivot to cheaper alternatives

Rising costs and shrinking ACA enrollment threaten markets