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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>84381</law_id><section_number>38.2-6509</section_number><catch_line>Choice</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="38.2">Insurance</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="65">Virginia Health Benefit Exchange</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> In accordance with &#xA7; 1312(f)(2)(A) of the <span class="dictionary">Federal Act</span>, a <span class="dictionary">qualified employer</span> may either designate one or more <span class="dictionary">qualified health plans</span> from which its <span class="dictionary">eligible employees</span> may choose or designate any level of coverage to be made available to <span class="dictionary">eligible employees</span> through an Exchange. <a id="paragraph-302405" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/38.2-6509/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> In accordance with &#xA7; 1312(b) of the <span class="dictionary">Federal Act</span>, a <span class="dictionary">qualified individual</span> enrolled in any <span class="dictionary">qualified health plan</span> may pay any applicable premium owed by such individual to the <span class="dictionary">health carrier</span> issuing such <span class="dictionary">qualified health plan</span>. <a id="paragraph-302406" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/38.2-6509/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> In accordance with &#xA7;&#xA0;1312(d) of the <span class="dictionary">Federal Act</span>: <a id="paragraph-302407" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/38.2-6509/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> This section shall not prohibit:
				a. A <span class="dictionary">health carrier</span> from offering outside of an Exchange a <span class="dictionary">health benefit plan</span> to a <span class="dictionary">qualified individual</span> or <span class="dictionary">qualified employer</span>; or
				b. A <span class="dictionary">qualified individual</span> from enrolling in, or a <span class="dictionary">qualified employer</span> from selecting for its <span class="dictionary">eligible employees</span>, a <span class="dictionary">health benefit plan</span> offered outside of an Exchange; and <a id="paragraph-302408" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/38.2-6509/#C1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> This section shall not limit the operation of any requirement under <span class="dictionary">state</span> <span class="dictionary">law</span> or regulation with respect to any policy or plan that is offered outside of the Exchange with respect to any requirement to offer benefits. <a id="paragraph-302409" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/38.2-6509/#C2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D"><p><span class="prefix-number">D.</span> Nothing in this section shall restrict the choice of a <span class="dictionary">qualified individual</span> to enroll or not to enroll in a <span class="dictionary">qualified health plan</span> or to participate in an Exchange. <a id="paragraph-302410" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/38.2-6509/#D"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="E"><p><span class="prefix-number">E.</span> Nothing in this section shall compel an individual to enroll in a <span class="dictionary">qualified health plan</span> or to participate in an Exchange. <a id="paragraph-302411" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/38.2-6509/#E"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="F"><p><span class="prefix-number">F.</span> A <span class="dictionary">qualified individual</span> may enroll in any <span class="dictionary">qualified health plan</span>, except that in the case of a catastrophic plan described in &#xA7; 1302(e) of the <span class="dictionary">Federal Act</span>, a <span class="dictionary">qualified individual</span> may enroll in the plan only if the individual is eligible to enroll in the plan under &#xA7; 1302(e)(2) of the <span class="dictionary">Federal Act</span>. <a id="paragraph-302412" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/38.2-6509/#F"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="G"><p><span class="prefix-number">G.</span> In accordance with &#xA7;&#xA0;1312(e) of the <span class="dictionary">Federal Act</span>, the Exchange may, for a licensed agent who agrees to comply with regulatory requirements, including advance registration with the Exchange, completion of training, and adherence to privacy and security standards set by the Exchange, allow such licensed agents: <a id="paragraph-302413" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/38.2-6509/#G"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="G1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> To enroll <span class="dictionary">qualified individuals</span> and <span class="dictionary">qualified employers</span> in any <span class="dictionary">qualified health plan</span> or any <span class="dictionary">qualified dental plan</span> offered through the Exchange for which the individual or employer is eligible; and <a id="paragraph-302414" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/38.2-6509/#G1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="G2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> To assist <span class="dictionary">qualified individuals</span> in applying for premium tax credits and cost-sharing reductions for <span class="dictionary">qualified health plans</span> purchased through the Exchange. <a id="paragraph-302415" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/38.2-6509/#G2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>2020, cc. 916, 917.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
