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AIUI.
1. All insurance plans will be required to use the same terms and the same glossary for those terms to describe their coverage.
2. States get money to support or start consumer assistance programs to answer questions about health insurance, enroll you, and file complaints and appeals.
3. When an insurance company denies payment, there will be a uniform internal review process and an external appeal process.
4. Certain preventive checks, tests, screenings and counseling must be provided by all insurance plans at no additional cost, including blood pressure, depression, alcohol abuse, cholesterol, diabetes, immunizations and HIV testing. Contraception, STDs, osteoporosis, and various cancer checks are also included.
5. Universal adoption of a specific Patient's Bill of Rights, including the end of denial of care for "pre-existing conditions", the end of lifetime limits on most benefits, the end of arbitrary withdrawals of coverage, and several other rights.
6. If you are in an older health insurance plan, you are not required to change to a new style plan.
7. In 2014, a new nonprofit health insurer type will be legalized. Co-ops will be required to use profits to lower premiums, improve benefits, or improve quality of member health care. The majority of the directors of a co-op must be members receiving their care from the co-op.
8. Insurance companies must receive permission from a state review board to increase premiums by 10% or more.
1. All insurance plans will be required to use the same terms and the same glossary for those terms to describe their coverage.
2. States get money to support or start consumer assistance programs to answer questions about health insurance, enroll you, and file complaints and appeals.
3. When an insurance company denies payment, there will be a uniform internal review process and an external appeal process.
4. Certain preventive checks, tests, screenings and counseling must be provided by all insurance plans at no additional cost, including blood pressure, depression, alcohol abuse, cholesterol, diabetes, immunizations and HIV testing. Contraception, STDs, osteoporosis, and various cancer checks are also included.
5. Universal adoption of a specific Patient's Bill of Rights, including the end of denial of care for "pre-existing conditions", the end of lifetime limits on most benefits, the end of arbitrary withdrawals of coverage, and several other rights.
6. If you are in an older health insurance plan, you are not required to change to a new style plan.
7. In 2014, a new nonprofit health insurer type will be legalized. Co-ops will be required to use profits to lower premiums, improve benefits, or improve quality of member health care. The majority of the directors of a co-op must be members receiving their care from the co-op.
8. Insurance companies must receive permission from a state review board to increase premiums by 10% or more.
