On February 9, 2012, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Labor, and the Department of the Treasury jointly issued final regulations pursuant to the Affordable Care Act regarding plain-language health insurance plan descriptions. Health insurers will soon be required to present health plan benefits and coverage information in a clear, consistent and comparable manner.
Starting on September 23, 2012, health insurers and group health plans will be required to provide two significant tools to help consumers navigate the health insurance market. First, a Summary of Benefits Coverage (“SBC”) will outline key features of a plan, such as the covered benefits, cost-sharing provisions, and coverage limitations and exceptions. The SBC will also include a standardized plan comparison chart, showing common procedures and the corresponding plan coverage. The second tool, a Uniform Glossary, will explain terms commonly used in health insurance coverage, such as “deductible” and “co-payment”. Insurers must provide the SBC and Uniform Glossary at certain times during the enrollment process, such as when consumers are shopping for coverage, when coverage is renewed, when certain changes occur and upon request. The Uniform Glossary will also be publicly accessible on government websites, granting consumers easier access to insurance information.
To view the final rule, visit: http://ofr.gov/OFRUpload/OFRData/2012-03228_PI.pdf.