Oklahoma to Allow ACA Non-Compliant Health Insurance Policies

Oklahoma Insurance Commissioner John Doak announced that health insurers may continue to renew policies not meeting Affordable Care Act requirements through 2016.

The announcement came after the federal government released updated health care enrollment figures. As of March 1, nearly 33,000 Oklahomans had enrolled in the federal exchange.

Doak says the insurance department has concerns about the long-term effects of the federal health care law.

Under this change, insurance companies will be allowed to renew non-grandfathered plans for policies beginning on or before Oct. 1, 2016. Non-grandfathered plans are considered those issued after March 23, 2010, but prior to Jan. 1, 2014.

Doak said the department decided to leave the renewal decision up to the insurers because of the difficulty they face in trying to adapt to changing market rules.