New HHS Regulations on Mini-Med Plans Will Help Consumers Become More Informed Buyers of Health Coverage

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services today issued regulations for corporate health policies known in the industry as "mini-med" plans. Families USA's Executive Director, Ron Pollack, today commented on these regulations in the following letter to HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius:

Dear Secretary Sebelius:

Thank you for issuing notices and guidance today that will better inform consumers who are in mini-med policies about their coverage and options. Many consumers have purchased coverage that was subject to low annual limits without knowing what they were buying. When they became ill and needed treatment, the rug was pulled out from under them as they learned that they had exhausted their plan's coverage.

Mini-med policies are often purchased by low-wage workers, some of whom may have better options for coverage. Some may be able to get better coverage for their families through the Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Programs. The notice that mini-med plans must provide consumers as a result of your new guidance will inform consumers of the limits in their policies and will direct consumers to healthcare.gov and to the consumer assistance program in their states, where they will learn of any available options.

In our comments on Patient Bill of Rights regulations this summer, we and other consumer groups had urged you to provide notice to consumers whose plans had received waivers from the annual limits requirements. Thank you for your responsiveness.

We will look forward to 2014 when consumers will have more affordable, comprehensive health insurance.

Sincerely,

Ronald F. Pollack
Executive Director
Families USA

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Families USA is the national organization for health care consumers. It is nonprofit and nonpartisan and advocates for high-quality, affordable health care for all Americans.

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