Ryan Calls for Health Insurers to Disclose Options
WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan is joining 18 of his colleagues in the U.S. House of Representatives to call on the Department of Health and Human Services to use its authority to require additional disclosure from insurers who are sending health-plan cancellation letters to customers as a consequence of implementation of the Affordable Care Act.
Ryan, D-13 Ohio, said he is pleased President Obama is taking the appropriate steps to allow individuals to stay on their current health plans and ease the transition to new plans through 2014. The letter, sent to Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, calls on insurers to notify customers why their plan is being cancelled, provide full information on other available options and give them more time to select a new plan.
According to a news release issued by Ryan’s office, many consumers have received notices that their health plan is being cancelled and told that if they don’t take immediate action, they will be automatically enrolled in a more expensive plan. The letters don’t provide information on options such as subsidies that may be available to them though the health care exchanged being created though the Affordable Care Act.
“All Americans deserve to receive the high quality health care that the Affordable Care Act ensures by eliminating pre-existing conditions, end discrimination against women, and expanding coverage to millions," Ryan said. "Those Americans whose current coverage does not meet these standards must begin to consider new plans, and during this process it is critical that they have accurate information on what their current plan covers and their options moving forward.
“As we move forward, we cannot allow insurers to misrepresent coverage and mislead the public into choosing more expensive plans or continuing a plan that does not meet the basic standards every American deserves,” he continued.
Published by The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.
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