The Affordable Care Act incorporates three risk management programs to protect the assets of carrier’s who participate in the exchange’s and individual health insurance marketplace. The program includes:
Reinsurance – Stop Loss Insurance: For 2014 the government (taxpayers) will reimburse carriers 80% of individual claim loss between $60,000 and $250,000
Risk Corridor: If a plan ends up with a surplus a formula is used to make payment to the federal government. If a plan ends up with a deficit, payment is received from other plans to offset the deficit.
Risk Adjustment: Higher risk plans will receive subsidies from lower risk plans
http://www.ahipcoverage.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/ACA-Premium-Stabilization-Programs-3.pdf