The ACA Consumer Oriented and Operated Plans (CO-OPs) program provides loans to encourage the creation of consumer-governed, private, nonprofit health insurance issuers. CO-Ops will offer qualified health plans to individuals and small businesses beginning January 1, 2014. On February 21, 2012, CMS announced seven organizations that were selected on a competitive basis to receive CO-OP start-up and solvency loans to operate in Oregon, New Mexico, Montana, Iowa, Nebraska, Wisconsin, New Jersey, and New York. CMS will continue to review applications and announce additional awardees in the future, with a goal of establishing a CO-OP in each state and the District of Columbia.