Opportunity Listing - Consumer Operated and Oriented Plan [CO-OP] Program

Consumer Operated and Oriented Plan [CO-OP] Program

Agency: CMS Consumer Operated and Oriented Plan Program

Assistance Listings: 93.545 -- Consumer Operated and Oriented Plan [CO-OP] Program

Last Updated: May 13, 2026

Description

We estimate that 51 applicants will be awarded loans under the CO-OP program joint Start-up and Solvency Loans or only Solvency Loans because section 1322 of the Affordable Care Act envisions the creation of at least one viable CO-OP in every State and the District of Columbia. These numbers are estimates. The actual number of awards will vary according to the number of applications and the size of awards. The estimated number of awards reflects the statutory goal of the CO-OP program to establish a CO-OP in each State. It should be noted, however, that the statute allows CMS to fund more than one...

eligible prospective CO-OP qualified nonprofit health insurance issuer in any State if the funding is sufficient to do so. However, CMS is unlikely to fund CO-OPs that will directly compete with each other for the same target market if actuarial analysis indicates that these CO-OPs would be less likely to repay loans under those circumstances. If there is no applicant from a State, CMS may award loans to encourage the expansion of a eligible prospective CO-OP qualified nonprofit health insurance issuer from another State to that State or take other steps to encourage the development of a CO-OP in a State. Additionally, an applicant may apply for loans to establish a CO-OP in more than one State. For the purposes of this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA), a State means each of the 50 States and the District of Columbia. All awards (new and continuation) that are issued under this announcement are subject to the availability of funds as well as satisfactory progress. In the absence of funding, CMS is under no obligation to make awards under this announcement.

Eligibility

Eligible applicants

Miscellaneous

Other

Additional information

Please see page 21 of the full announcement for eligibility information.

Grantor contact information

Description

Korisha Ramdhanie, Project Officer korisha.ramdhanie@cms.hhs.gov Phone: 301.492.4435 or Johanna Fabian-Marks Phone: 301.492.4434

Email

CO-OPProgram@cms.hhs.gov

Documents

File name	Description	Last updated
coop-foa-09-13-2012_508.pdf	CO-OP FOA (Revised Project Officers 9/19/12)	Sep 19, 2012 09:31 PM UTC

Link to additional information

Archived: January 30, 2013

Application process

This site is a work in progress. Go to www.grants.gov to apply, track application status, and subscribe to updates.

Award

$--

Program Funding

Expected awards

$--

Award Minimum

$--

Award Maximum

Funding opportunity number:

OO-COO-11-001

Cost sharing or matching requirement:

Funding instrument type:

Other

Opportunity Category:

Other

Opportunity Category Explanation:

Loans

Category of Funding Activity:

Health

Category Explanation:

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, Pub. L. No. 111-148, enacted on March 23, 2010, and the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010, Pub. L. No. 111-152, enacted on March 30, 2010, are collectively referred to in this announcement as the Affordable Care Act. The Department of Defense and Full-Year Continuing Appropriations Act, 2011, Pub. L. No. 112-10, which amended the Affordable Care Act, was enacted on April 15, 2011. Section 1322 of the Affordable Care Act created the Consumer Operated and Oriented Plan program (CO-OP program) to foster the creation of new consumer-governed, private, nonprofit health insurance issuers, known as CO-OPs. In addition to improving consumer choice and plan accountability, the CO-OP program also seeks to promote integrated models of care and enhance competition in the Affordable Insurance Exchanges established under sections 1311 and 1321 of the Affordable Care Act. The statute provides loans to capitalize eligible prospective CO-OPs with a goal of having at least one CO-OP in each State. The statute permits the funding of multiple CO-OPs in any State, provided that there is sufficient funding to capitalize at least one CO-OP in each State. The statute directs the Secretary to give priority to applicants that will offer CO-OP qualified health plans on a Statewide basis, will use integrated care models, and have significant private support.

History

Version:

Posted date:

January 5, 2012

Archive date:

January 30, 2013