Issued by: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)

Issue Date: November 06, 2014

Program Area: Small Business Health Options Program (SHOP)

Question: In the case of a small employer that purchases a Qualified Health Plan (QHP) through a Small Business Health Options Program (SHOP) for a plan year that is not the calendar year, will the QHP be certified through the duration of the employer's 12-month plan year?

Answer: Under 45 CFR 155.1000(d), except when a QHP is decertified by the Exchange pursuant to 155.1080, a SHOP QHP's certification remains in effect for the duration of any plan year beginning in the calendar year for which QHP was certified, even if the plan year ends after the calendar year for which the QHP was certified.

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