New rules limit the circumstances in which someone may qualify for the permanent move SEP to ensure consistency with the original purpose of that SEP. An Interim Final Rule with Comment (IFC) published in the Federal Register provides that individuals requesting a “permanent move” SEP must have minimum essential coverage for one or more days in the 60 days preceding the permanent move, unless they were living outside of the United States or in a United State territory prior to the permanent move. This ensures that individuals are not moving for the sole purpose of obtaining health coverage outside of the open enrollment period.
$2.4 billion ACA medical loss ratio consumer rebates
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released a new report today showing that consumers have received more than $2.4 billion premium rebates since 2011 because the Affordable Care Act requires that health insurance companies spend at least 80 percent of premium dollars on health care. For 2014 alone, over 5.5 million consumers received nearly $470 million in rebates, for an average of $129 per family.
Healthcare.gov tests health plan selection by doctor search function
Beginning today, HealthCare.gov is piloting a new beta feature that allows consumers to search plans by their preferred provider or health facility. Some consumers will be part of a pilot that allows them to use the beta Doctor Lookup feature as they compare their coverage options in window shopping or when selecting a plan.
Medicare prescription drug premiums projected to remain stable
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) projected today that the average premium for a basic Medicare Part D prescription drug plan in 2016 will remain stable, at an estimated $32.50 per month.