New Report by Patient Coalition on Substandard Healthcare Plans Resulting in Patient Cost Burden

A coalition of 30 patient organizations advocating for healthcare access for patients with preexisting health conditions has released a new report. The report details eight types of insurance plans that don’t follow ACA (Affordable Care Act) regulations, including Health Care Sharing Ministries (HCSMs) and short-term plans. Oftentimes, consumers do not understand the intricacies of their plan’s benefits, leading to high medical bills. The coalition seeks to warn consumers about these substandard healthcare plans and calls on state and federal governments to quickly implement policy changes.

According to the patient coalition, “Allowing these plans to remain on the market effectively turns back the clock to the days when insurers could reject people with pre-existing conditions, exclude coverage for specific diseases and hike premiums based on an individual’s medical history, gender or age without limits” adding, “We’re calling on Congress, the Biden Administration, and state policymakers to take immediate steps to mitigate the harm of these substandard products.” Learn more here.

(Source: Briana Contreras, Managed Healthcare Executive, 2021)