Yesterday the Departments of Health & Human Services, Treasury, and Labor proposed new rules under the Affordable Care Act that can help healthcare consumers better understand the tenets of their health coverage as well as better understand the details of other health insurance options that may be available to them and their families. With these new rules, health insurers and group health plans must provide consumers with clear, consistent, and comparable information about their healthcare benefits and coverage, detailed on two forms (available in 2012). One form would be an easy-to-understand Summary of Benefits and Coverage, while the other would be a uniform glossary of healthcare terms (such as "co-pay" and "deductible").
The rules proposed today will aid healthcare consumers in understanding how different health benefit plans can affect them and their families by providing consumers with "apples-to-apples" comparisons. In the Summary of Benefits and Coverage, consumers can expect to see a set of coverage examples that would show what proportion of care expenses a health insurance plan or policy would cover for three common health benefits scenarios--having a baby, treating breast cancer, and managing diabetes. Being able to read over such scenarios can help consumers compare their share of the costs under different health plan options, helping them to make a more informed choice about what plan may work best for them and their families.
To find out more about these new proposed rules, click here. Can't wait for 2012 to have your health benefits demystified? Check into whether your employer offers an advocacy service as one of its benefits. Services such as Health Advocate can help you navigate the healthcare system, helping you better understand and utilize your health and wellness benefits.
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