---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 18051"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "18051"
heading: "State flexibility to establish basic health programs for low-income individuals not eligible for medicaid"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/18051"
units:
  - "Chapter 157 — Quality, Affordable Health Care for All Americans"
  - "Subchapter III — Available Coverage Choices for All Americans"
  - "Part D — State Flexibility To Establish Alternative Programs"
---

# §18051. State flexibility to establish basic health programs for low-income individuals not eligible for medicaid

- (a) **Establishment of program—**
  - (1) **In general—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/18024.md?p=c) shall establish a basic health program meeting the requirements of this section under which a [State](/usc/42/18024.md?p=d) may enter into contracts to offer 1 or more standard [health plans](/usc/42/18021.md?p=b-1-A) providing at least the essential health benefits described in [section 18022(b) of this title](/usc/42/18022.md?p=b) to eligible individuals in lieu of offering such individuals coverage through an Exchange.
  - (2) **Certifications as to benefit coverage and costs—** Such program shall provide that a [State](/usc/42/18024.md?p=d) may not establish a basic health program under this section unless the [State](/usc/42/18024.md?p=d) establishes to the satisfaction of the [Secretary](/usc/42/18024.md?p=c), and the [Secretary](/usc/42/18024.md?p=c) certifies, that—
    - (A) in the case of an eligible individual enrolled in a standard [health plan](/usc/42/18021.md?p=b-1-A) offered through the program, the [State](/usc/42/18024.md?p=d) provides—
      - (i) that the amount of the monthly premium an eligible individual is required to pay for coverage under the standard [health plan](/usc/42/18021.md?p=b-1-A) for the individual and the individual’s dependents does not exceed the amount of the monthly premium that the eligible individual would have been required to pay (in the rating area in which the individual resides) if the individual had enrolled in the applicable second lowest cost silver plan (as defined in [section 36B(b)(3)(B) of title 26](/usc/26/36B.md?p=b-3-B)) offered to the individual through an Exchange; and
      - (ii) that the cost-sharing an eligible individual is required to pay under the standard [health plan](/usc/42/18021.md?p=b-1-A) does not exceed—
        - (I) the cost-sharing required under a platinum plan in the case of an eligible individual with household income not in excess of 150 percent of the poverty line for the size of the family involved; and
        - (II) the cost-sharing required under a gold plan in the case of an eligible individual not described in [subclause (I)](#a-2-A-ii-I); and
    - (B) the benefits provided under the standard [health plans](/usc/42/18021.md?p=b-1-A) offered through the program cover at least the essential health benefits described in [section 18022(b) of this title](/usc/42/18022.md?p=b).

    For purposes of [subparagraph (A)(i)](#a-2-A-i), the amount of the monthly premium an individual is required to pay under either the standard [health plan](/usc/42/18021.md?p=b-1-A) or the applicable second lowest cost silver plan shall be determined after reduction for any premium tax credits and cost-sharing reductions allowable with respect to either plan.

- (b) **Standard health plan—** In this section, the term “standard heath[^1] plan” means a health benefits plan that the [State](/usc/42/18024.md?p=d) contracts with under this section—
  - (1) under which the only individuals eligible to enroll are eligible individuals;
  - (2) that provides at least the essential health benefits described in [section 18022(b) of this title](/usc/42/18022.md?p=b); and
  - (3) in the case of a plan that provides [health insurance coverage](/usc/42/18021.md?p=b-2) offered by a [health insurance issuer](/usc/42/18021.md?p=b-2), that has a medical loss ratio of at least 85 percent.
- (c) **Contracting process—**
  - (1) **In general—** A [State](/usc/42/18024.md?p=d) basic health program shall establish a competitive process for entering into contracts with standard [health plans](/usc/42/18021.md?p=b-1-A) under [subsection (a)](#a), including negotiation of premiums and cost-sharing and negotiation of benefits in addition to the essential health benefits described in [section 18022(b) of this title](/usc/42/18022.md?p=b).
  - (2) **Specific items to be considered—** A [State](/usc/42/18024.md?p=d) shall, as part of its competitive process under [paragraph (1)](#c-1), include at least the following:
    - (A) **Innovation—** Negotiation with offerors of a standard [health plan](/usc/42/18021.md?p=b-1-A) for the inclusion of innovative features in the plan, including—
      - (i) care coordination and care management for enrollees, especially for those with chronic health conditions;
      - (ii) incentives for use of preventive services; and
      - (iii) the establishment of relationships between providers and patients that maximize patient involvement in health care decision-making, including providing incentives for appropriate utilization under the plan.
    - (B) **Health and resource differences—** Consideration of, and the making of suitable allowances for, differences in health care needs of enrollees and differences in local availability of, and access to, health care providers. Nothing in this subparagraph shall be construed as allowing discrimination on the basis of pre-existing conditions or other health status-related factors.
    - (C) **Managed care—** Contracting with managed care systems, or with systems that offer as many of the attributes of managed care as are feasible in the local health care market.
    - (D) **Performance measures—** Establishing specific performance measures and standards for issuers of standard [health plans](/usc/42/18021.md?p=b-1-A) that focus on quality of care and improved health outcomes, requiring such plans to report to the [State](/usc/42/18024.md?p=d) with respect to the measures and standards, and making the performance and quality information available to enrollees in a useful form.
  - (3) **Enhanced availability—**
    - (A) **Multiple plans—** A [State](/usc/42/18024.md?p=d) shall, to the maximum extent feasible, seek to make multiple standard [health plans](/usc/42/18021.md?p=b-1-A) available to eligible individuals within a [State](/usc/42/18024.md?p=d) to ensure individuals have a choice of such plans.
    - (B) **Regional compacts—** A [State](/usc/42/18024.md?p=d) may negotiate a regional [compact](/usc/42/2021b.md?p=4) with other [States](/usc/42/18024.md?p=d) to include coverage of eligible individuals in all such [States](/usc/42/18024.md?p=d) in agreements with issuers of standard [health plans](/usc/42/18021.md?p=b-1-A).
  - (4) **Coordination with other State programs—** A [State](/usc/42/18024.md?p=d) shall seek to coordinate the administration of, and provision of benefits under, its program under this section with the [State](/usc/42/18024.md?p=d) medicaid program under title XIX of the Social Security Act [[42 U.S.C. 1396](/usc/42/1396.md) et seq.], the [State](/usc/42/18024.md?p=d) child [health plan](/usc/42/18021.md?p=b-1-A) under title XXI of such Act [[42 U.S.C. 1397aa](/usc/42/1397aa.md) et seq.], and other [State](/usc/42/18024.md?p=d)-administered health programs to maximize the efficiency of such programs and to improve the continuity of care.
- (d) **Transfer of funds to States—**
  - (1) **In general—** If the [Secretary](/usc/42/18024.md?p=c) determines that a [State](/usc/42/18024.md?p=d) electing the application of this section meets the requirements of the program established under [subsection (a)](#a), the [Secretary](/usc/42/18024.md?p=c) shall transfer to the [State](/usc/42/18024.md?p=d) for each fiscal year for which 1 or more standard [health plans](/usc/42/18021.md?p=b-1-A) are operating within the [State](/usc/42/18024.md?p=d) the amount determined under [paragraph (3)](#d-3).
  - (2) **Use of funds—** A [State](/usc/42/18024.md?p=d) shall establish a trust for the deposit of the amounts received under [paragraph (1)](#d-1) and amounts in the trust fund shall only be used to reduce the premiums and cost-sharing of, or to provide additional benefits for, eligible individuals enrolled in standard [health plans](/usc/42/18021.md?p=b-1-A) within the [State](/usc/42/18024.md?p=d). Amounts in the trust fund, and expenditures of such amounts, shall not be included in determining the amount of any non-Federal funds for purposes of meeting any matching or expenditure requirement of any federally-funded program.
  - (3) **Amount of payment—**
    - (A) **Secretarial determination—**
      - (i) **In general—** The amount determined under this paragraph for any fiscal year is the amount the [Secretary](/usc/42/18024.md?p=c) determines is equal to 95 percent of the premium tax credits under [section 36B of title 26](/usc/26/36B.md), and the cost-sharing reductions under [section 18071 of this title](/usc/42/18071.md), that would have been provided for the fiscal year to eligible individuals enrolled in standard [health plans](/usc/42/18021.md?p=b-1-A) in the [State](/usc/42/18024.md?p=d) if such eligible individuals were allowed to enroll in [qualified health plans](/usc/42/18021.md?p=a-1) through an Exchange established under this subchapter.
      - (ii) **Specific requirements—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/18024.md?p=c) shall make the determination under [clause (i)](#d-3-A-i) on a per enrollee basis and shall take into account all relevant factors necessary to determine the value of the premium tax credits and cost-sharing reductions that would have been provided to eligible individuals described in [clause (i)](#d-3-A-i), including the age and income of the enrollee, whether the enrollment is for self-only or family coverage, geographic differences in average spending for health care across rating areas, the health status of the enrollee for purposes of determining risk adjustment payments and reinsurance payments that would have been made if the enrollee had enrolled in a [qualified health plan](/usc/42/18021.md?p=a-1) through an Exchange, and whether any reconciliation of the credit or cost-sharing reductions would have occurred if the enrollee had been so enrolled. This determination shall take into consideration the experience of other [States](/usc/42/18024.md?p=d) with respect to participation in an Exchange and such credits and reductions provided to residents of the other [States](/usc/42/18024.md?p=d), with a special focus on enrollees with income below 200 percent of poverty.
      - (iii) **Certification—** The Chief Actuary of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, in consultation with the Office of Tax Analysis of the Department of the Treasury, shall certify whether the methodology used to make determinations under this subparagraph, and such determinations, meet the requirements of [clause (ii)](#d-3-A-ii). Such certifications shall be based on sufficient data from the [State](/usc/42/18024.md?p=d) and from comparable [States](/usc/42/18024.md?p=d) about their experience with programs created by this Act.
    - (B) **Corrections—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/18024.md?p=c) shall adjust the payment for any fiscal year to reflect any error in the determinations under [subparagraph (A)](#d-3-A) for any preceding fiscal year.
  - (4) **Application of special rules—** The provisions of [section 18023 of this title](/usc/42/18023.md) shall apply to a [State](/usc/42/18024.md?p=d) basic health program, and to standard [health plans](/usc/42/18021.md?p=b-1-A) offered through such program, in the same manner as such rules apply to [qualified health plans](/usc/42/18021.md?p=a-1).
- (e) **Eligible individual—**
  - (1) **In general—** In this section, the term “eligible individual” means, with respect to any [State](/usc/42/18024.md?p=d), an individual—
    - (A) who a[^2] resident of the [State](/usc/42/18024.md?p=d) who is not eligible to enroll in the [State](/usc/42/18024.md?p=d)’s medicaid program under title XIX of the Social Security Act [[42 U.S.C. 1396](/usc/42/1396.md) et seq.] for benefits that at a minimum consist of the essential health benefits described in [section 18022(b) of this title](/usc/42/18022.md?p=b);
    - (B) whose household income exceeds 133 percent but does not exceed 200 percent of the poverty line for the size of the family involved, or, in the case of an alien lawfully present in the United States, whose income is not greater than 133 percent of the poverty line for the size of the family involved but who is not eligible for the Medicaid program under title XIX of the Social Security Act by reason of such alien status;
    - (C) who is not eligible for minimum essential coverage (as defined in [section 5000A(f) of title 26](/usc/26/5000A.md?p=f)) or is eligible for an employer-sponsored plan that is not affordable coverage (as determined under [section 5000A(e)(2)](/usc/26/5000A.md?p=e-2) of such title); and
    - (D) who has not attained age 65 as of the beginning of the plan year.

    Such term shall not include any individual who is not a qualified individual under [section 18032 of this title](/usc/42/18032.md) who is eligible to be covered by a [qualified health plan](/usc/42/18021.md?p=a-1) offered through an Exchange.

  - (2) **Eligible individuals may not use Exchange—** An eligible individual shall not be treated as a qualified individual under [section 18032 of this title](/usc/42/18032.md) eligible for enrollment in a [qualified health plan](/usc/42/18021.md?p=a-1) offered through an Exchange established under [section 18031 of this title](/usc/42/18031.md).
- (f) **Secretarial oversight—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/18024.md?p=c) shall each year conduct a review of each [State](/usc/42/18024.md?p=d) program to ensure compliance with the requirements of this section, including ensuring that the [State](/usc/42/18024.md?p=d) program meets—
  - (1) eligibility verification requirements for participation in the program;
  - (2) the requirements for use of Federal funds received by the program; and
  - (3) the quality and performance standards under this section.
- (g) **Standard health plan offerors—** A [State](/usc/42/18024.md?p=d) may provide that persons eligible to offer standard [health plans](/usc/42/18021.md?p=b-1-A) under a basic health program established under this section may include a licensed health maintenance organization, a licensed health insurance insurer, or a network of health care providers established to offer services under the program.
- (h) **Definitions—** Any term used in this section which is also used in [section 36B of title 26](/usc/26/36B.md) shall have the meaning given such term by such section.

## Footnotes

[^1]: So in original. Probably should be “health”.
[^2]: So in original. Probably should be preceded by “is”.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 111–148, title I, § 1331, title X, § 10104(o), Mar. 23, 2010, 124 Stat. 199, 902.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

The Social Security Act, referred to in subsecs. (c)(4) and (e)(1)(A), (B), is act Aug. 14, 1935, ch. 531, 49 Stat. 620. Titles XIX and XXI of the Act are classified generally to subchapters XIX (§ 1396 et seq.) and XXI (§ 1397aa et seq.), respectively, of chapter 7 of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see section 1305 of this title and Tables.

This Act, referred to in subsec. (d)(3)(A)(iii), is Pub. L. 111–148, Mar. 23, 2010, 124 Stat. 119, known as the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 18001 of this title and Tables.

### Amendments

2010—Subsec. (d)(3)(A)(i). Pub. L. 111–148, § 10104(o)(1), substituted “95 percent” for “85 percent”.

Subsec. (e)(1)(B). Pub. L. 111–148, § 10104(o)(2), inserted “, or, in the case of an alien lawfully present in the United States, whose income is not greater than 133 percent of the poverty line for the size of the family involved but who is not eligible for the Medicaid program under title XIX of the Social Security Act by reason of such alien status” before semicolon at end.