Final rules improve consumers access to important plan information – CMS News 6/12/15
The rules enhance the consumer shopping experience in a number of ways. For example, health insurance issuers must provide online access to a copy of the individual coverage policy for each plan or group certificate of coverage. And these documents must be made publicly available to all potential consumers prior to when a consumer applies, so they are clearly informed about what a plan will and will not offer. The final rules make few changes to the rules proposed in December 2014.
In continuing the goal of providing clear and straightforward information to consumers about health plans available in their area, health insurance issuers and group health plans must still provide a brief SBC that includes coverage examples and a uniform glossary to consumers. Revisions to SBC, coverage examples and uniform glossary are anticipated to be finalized by January 2016 after the Departments utilize consumer testing and receive additional input from the public, including the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC). The revisions will apply to SBCs for coverage beginning on or after January 1, 2017.