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Lawmakers move to dissolve state high‑risk pool CHAND and transition remaining members to market plans
Summary
Senate Bill 20‑32 would dissolve the Comprehensive Health Association of North Dakota (CHAND), close remaining blocks of coverage and provide guaranteed‑issue windows and transition dates so remaining members can move into market or Medicare supplement plans without losing coverage.
The House Human Services Committee heard testimony on Senate Bill 20‑32, a bill to dissolve the Comprehensive Health Association of North Dakota (CHAND), the state's long‑standing high‑risk pool created before the Affordable Care Act. Senator Kristen Rohr (chair of the interim health services committee) introduced the measure and said the program's original purpose—coverage for people denied for preexisting conditions—was rendered obsolete by the ACA.
The Insurance Department and Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota described the transition plan and key dates. Bridal Bartuska, Life & Health and Medicare division director at the insurance department, outlined the proposed timeline: stop new enrollment in the CHAND Medicare supplement block on May 1, 2025; terminate all CHAND plans effective Dec. 30, 2025; and create a special enrollment/guaranteed‑issue opportunity for affected members with new coverage beginning January 2026. Bartuska said the department set a final administrative backstop of 2027 to ensure claims processing and to allow the legislature time to act if unforeseen issues arise.
Blue Cross told the committee it has done targeted outreach during recent open enrollment periods to help CHAND enrollees find ACA marketplace plans or other coverage; the carrier said roughly 120 members once were in the Medicare supplement block and that roughly 20–40 remained in the two product classes at the time of testimony. The department and carrier said they would coordinate to "handhold" remaining members so they do not experience gaps in coverage. The bill also includes language to allow guaranteed issue for Medicare supplement plans to avoid underwriting denials for people leaving CHAND.
Supporters argued dissolving CHAND is appropriate because guaranteed‑issue and marketplace coverage under the ACA already protect consumers; department witnesses emphasized careful scheduling and a transition window to avoid lost coverage or unpaid claims. No organized opposition appeared at the hearing.
