Tag: consumers
Beware the Latest Loophole

As significant an impact as the Affordable Care Act will have on the U.S. health insurance market, there remain a number of ways health insurance carriers and other stakeholders may avoid or delay the law’s reforms. Christine Monahan discusses a new loophole gaining attention at the state level that would allow health insurance carriers to delay compliance with the ACA’s 2014 market reforms for a year.
NAIC Tackles Consumers’ ACA Questions: Subgroup Prepares Educational Materials for State Departments of Insurance
Essential Health Benefits in the States: Selections Have Been Made but Questions Remain

In our most recent issue brief for the Commonwealth Fund, Sabrina Corlette and CHIR colleagues examined states’ selection of an essential health benefits benchmark plan. In this blog Sabrina reviews the report’s findings and what they mean for ongoing implementation of these critical consumer protections.
Consumer Representatives Issue Recommendations for Sweeping Insurance Reforms Under the Affordable Care Act

On August 11, 2012, the consumer representatives to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) debuted a a set of recommendations to ensure that state and federal lawmakers implement the Affordable Care Act's insurance reforms in a way that meet consumers’ needs. Learn more about the consumer representatives' recommendations and read the press release here!
Health Reform on the Campaign Trail
Action on Multi-State Plans, But Still No Specifics
Health Reform on the Campaign Trail – Obama's Blueprint
State of the States: Choosing an Essential Health Benefits Benchmark Plan

To help make coverage more comprehensive, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) requires insurers to cover a minimum set of health insurance benefits, known as “essential health benefits.” JoAnn Volk and Max Levin provide an update on how many states have selected their essential health benefits benchmark plan and help translate what it means for consumers.
Summary of Benefits and Coverage: Helping Consumers Shop for Health Insurance

As of September 23, consumers will begin to receive a new summary of benefits and coverage form that describes what's covered by their insurance policy. Sabrina Corlette welcomes these new forms and discusses how they were developed as well as their potential to help tame the “wild west” of shopping for health insurance coverage.