​​On Monday, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued final rules for the health insurance marketplaces for plan year 2019, as well as the 2019 letter for issuers selling on the federally facilitated exchanges. The rule includes a number of policy changes for both the individual market and the Small Business Health Options Program. Changes include providing states with additional flexibility to define the essential health benefits to, among other things, modifying the availability of special enrollment periods; refining further the risk adjustment model; and expanding the types of entities that may be navigators, among other changes to the program. Initial qualified health plan applications are due June 20. The American Hospital Association is currently reviewing the rule and letter, and more information will be available soon.  ​