Form filing requirement and deadlines

File all policy forms and related materials with the Alabama Department of Insurance through the System for Electronic Rate & Form Filing (SERFF) whether or not the forms will be offered inside the Federal Health Insurance Marketplace. Forms submitted for a qualified health plan (QHP) to be offered on the Marketplace must be submitted into SERFF by May 30, 2013; all non‑QHP forms for use outside the Marketplace must be submitted into SERFF at least 30 days prior to use in Alabama.

• Submit QHP forms into SERFF by May 30, 2013.
• Submit non‑QHP forms into SERFF at least 30 days before intended use in Alabama.

HIOS submission content requirements

When submitting documents into HIOS identify whether the product/plan is a QHP or non‑QHP, state the coverage level for each benefit design (bronze, silver, gold, or platinum), and provide separate schedules for each plan design. For potential QHPs, file all appropriate QHP application templates and supporting documents; for non‑QHPs submit the CMS Prescription Drug Template, Actuarial Value Calculator results, and any Unique Plan Design or equivalency justifications and pediatric dental/vision descriptions if benefits are omitted.

• Identify QHP vs non‑QHP and coverage level (bronze/silver/gold/platinum).
• Provide separate schedules for each plan design offered.
• Include QHP application templates and justifications for QHP filings.
• Include CMS Prescription Drug Template, Actuarial Value Calculator results, and any required justifications for non‑QHP filings.
• If pediatric dental/vision are omitted, include a description of how those benefits will be provided outside the Marketplaces.

Rate filing requirement for market rating reform

Submit Part I – Unified Rate Review template and Part III – Actuarial Memorandum into HIOS for market rating reform compliance for new or renewal rates effective on or after January 1, 2014 in the individual and small group markets.

• Use the HIOS Integrated Rate Review Module to upload Part I and Part III for any rates effective on or after January 1, 2014.

Registration and access steps

Register in the CMS Enterprise Identity Management (EIDM) portal, complete HIOS registration to receive an Authorization Code, then request access to the HIOS Form Filing Module and appropriate user role via Role Management; contact the CMS help desk or Alabama DOI contacts for assistance if needed.

• New users: register at https://portal.cms.gov for an EIDM User ID, then request HIOS access and use the Authorization Code provided.
• Existing users: use EIDM account login to access the HIOS tab and request Form Filing Module access via Role Management.
• For HIOS access questions contact CMS_FEPS@cms.hhs.gov or 1‑855‑CMS‑1515; for SERFF/form filing questions contact Jennifer Haskell or Robert Turner at the Alabama DOI.