States Look to Reinsurance to Lower Health Insurance Costs.

(1) Section 1332 of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) allows states to apply for reinsurance waivers--which can alter certain ACA requirements for health insurance plans--to help make coverage more affordable. (2) As of 2017, more than 10 million people were enrolled in a health insurance plan in the individual market. (3) To date, seven states have successfully adopted reinsurance programs at minimal cost to the state and have seen premiums reduced as much as 20 percent annually.