The Maine Bureau of Insurance will be holding public information sessions regarding the federal healthcare reform law (Affordable Care Act).

Individuals seeking information about the new federal health insurance exchanges, newly proposed plans for offering on the exchanges, or other aspects for the health insurance portions of the ACA are invited to attend.

Questions about all other types of insurance are also welcomed. The bureau will address all insurance-related questions or concerns. Informational materials will be available. Dates, locations and times are listed below:

-August 15: 6 p.m., USM, Portland (Talbot Lecture Hall)

-August 16: 6 p.m., Husson University, Bangor (CFB Conference Room)

-August 29: 6 p.m., Central Maine Community College Auburn (Kirk Hall)

-August 30: 6 p.m., University of Maine, Presque Isle (Allagash Room)

Each session will be preceded at 5 p.m. with a public session for individuals wishing to comment on Anthem's request to discontinue its current plans in the individual market and offer people with those plans the option of selecting one of Anthem's newly proposed plans.

Approximately 17,500 people in Maine are covered by one of Anthem's current individual plans. Some of those people would be ‘grandfathered and able to maintain their present coverage, because they signed up for the policy prior to the ACA becoming federal law. The bureau will hold a formal hearing on this matter on September 9, 2013 at 9 a.m. in Room 208 of the Burton M. Cross State Office Building in Augusta.

Consumers with questions about the ACA can also call the Bureau of Insurance toll-free at 1-800-300-5000 or visit the agency's website: www.maine.gov/insurance.