There are significant risks patients face when they enroll in non-compliant and substandard health insurance products. A new report published by 30 patient organizations shares the risks and details ways state and federal lawmakers can help protect these vulnerable consumers.
The report, “Under-Covered: How ‘Insurance-Like’ Products Are Leaving Patients Exposed,” (Read Here) https://www.lls.org/sites/default/files/National/undercovered_report.pdf issued by a coalition representing millions of people with pre-existing conditions, details eight different types of “non-compliant plans” that do not adhere to Affordable Care Act (ACA) consumer protections like coverage for pre-existing conditions, elimination of annual and lifetime coverage limits, and coverage for essential health benefits.
The plans have proliferated in recent years, and in many cases, are marketed to consumers who don’t fully understand what they’re purchasing. As a result, patients are often vulnerable to exorbitant medical bills. This report serves as a warning to consumers to avoid these plans – and a call to action to lawmakers.
These plans include:
- Short-Term, Limited-Duration Insurance
- Heath Care Sharing Ministries
- Farm Bureau Plans
- Grandfathered Plans
- MEWAs and AHPs
- Spurious “Single-Employer Self-insured Group Health Plans”
- Minimum Essential Coverage-Only Plans
- Excepted Benefit Plans