New proposed Affordable Care Act regulations announced today by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will bring new transparency and scrutiny to proposed health insurance rate increases. These proposed rules allow HHS to work with states to require insurers to publicly disclose and justify unreasonable rate increases.
“Year after year, insurance company profits soar, while Americans pay more for less health care coverage,” said Secretary Sebelius. “The Affordable Care Act is bringing unprecedented transparency and oversight to insurance premiums to help reign in the kind of excessive and unreasonable rate increases that have made insurance unaffordable for so many families.”
Health insurance premiums have risen rapidly over the past decade, straining pocketbooks for American families and businesses. Since 1999, average premiums for family coverage have risen 131 percent.
The Affordable Care Act has already begun to help states strengthen or create rate review processes. On August 16, HHS awarded $46 million to 45 states and the District of Columbia to help them improve their oversight of proposed health insurance rate increases. This is part of $250 million that the health reform law makes available to states to take action against insurers seeking unreasonable rate hikes.
Today’s proposed regulations will build on these efforts by requiring insurers in all states to publicly justify any unreasonable rate increases beginning in 2011. In 2011, proposed rate increases of 10 percent or higher will be publicly disclosed and thoroughly reviewed to determine if the rate increase is unreasonable. After 2011, state-specific thresholds would be set using data and trends that better reflect cost trends particular to each state. Insurance company’s justifications for unreasonable increases will be posted on HealthCare.gov and the insurance plan’s website.
“The proposed rate review policy will empower consumers, promote competition, encourage insurers to do more to control health care costs and discourage insurers from charging premiums which are unjustified,” said Jay Angoff, director of HHS’ Office of Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight.
Under the proposed regulation, states with effective rate review systems would conduct the reviews. If a state lacks the resources or authority to do thorough actuarial reviews, HHS would conduct them. Meanwhile, HHS will continue to make resources available to states to strengthen their rate review processes.
In 2014, the Affordable Care Act empowers states to exclude health plans that show a pattern of excessive or unjustified premium increases from the new health insurance exchanges.
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Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Wednesday, December 08, 2010
60 Participants in Fulton County Retirement Plan Take Advantage of MassMutual's LifeBridge(SM) Free Life Insurance Program
/PRNewswire/ -- As part of MassMutual's LifeBridge(SM) Free Life Insurance Program, 11,500 individuals across the country have received $575 million in free life insurance, including employees of Fulton County, Georgia. To date, the program has provided 60 participants in the Fulton County Defined Contribution 401(a) Plan each with a $50,000 free term life insurance policy, totaling $3 million in free coverage from MassMutual.
Under the program, MassMutual pays all insurance premiums for a $50,000 10-year term life insurance policy. If an insured parent or legal guardian dies during the term of the policy, $50,000 will be put in trust to pay the educational expenses of his or her children. The program is available to all parents between the ages of 19 and 42 who meet the criteria of the program. Individuals need not participate in a retirement plan administered by MassMutual or be a client of MassMutual's to apply.
"MassMutual offers this great program, not just to its retirement plan clients, but to any working parent in the country who qualifies. Our MassMutual retirement plan relationship manager made us aware of this program and we're thrilled that so many of our employees have been able to take advantage of it," says Tammy Goebeler, Investment Officer of Fulton County. "As a parent, you want the best education possible for your children. This program can give a parent peace of mind in the event that something unexpected happens. Our hope is that other working parents in our community will explore the LifeBridge Program and take advantage of this great program as well," says Goebeler.
"We're pleased that so many Fulton County employees were able to take advantage of this great program," says Elaine Sarsynski, executive vice president of MassMutual's Retirement Services Division and chairman and CEO of MassMutual International LLC. "By offering group meetings for its employees, Fulton County has helped raise awareness of this valuable free life insurance program among its retirement plan participants. We encourage every MassMutual retirement plan sponsor to inform their employees about the availability of the LifeBridge program," she adds.
MassMutual also offers a convenient onsite application event for large groups. For more information about the LifeBridge Free Life Insurance Program, please call (800) 272-2216 or visit www.massmutual.com/lifebridge. Existing MassMutual Retirement Services clients interested in learning more about the program can also request information from their MassMutual relationship manager.
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Twitter: @FayetteFP
Under the program, MassMutual pays all insurance premiums for a $50,000 10-year term life insurance policy. If an insured parent or legal guardian dies during the term of the policy, $50,000 will be put in trust to pay the educational expenses of his or her children. The program is available to all parents between the ages of 19 and 42 who meet the criteria of the program. Individuals need not participate in a retirement plan administered by MassMutual or be a client of MassMutual's to apply.
"MassMutual offers this great program, not just to its retirement plan clients, but to any working parent in the country who qualifies. Our MassMutual retirement plan relationship manager made us aware of this program and we're thrilled that so many of our employees have been able to take advantage of it," says Tammy Goebeler, Investment Officer of Fulton County. "As a parent, you want the best education possible for your children. This program can give a parent peace of mind in the event that something unexpected happens. Our hope is that other working parents in our community will explore the LifeBridge Program and take advantage of this great program as well," says Goebeler.
"We're pleased that so many Fulton County employees were able to take advantage of this great program," says Elaine Sarsynski, executive vice president of MassMutual's Retirement Services Division and chairman and CEO of MassMutual International LLC. "By offering group meetings for its employees, Fulton County has helped raise awareness of this valuable free life insurance program among its retirement plan participants. We encourage every MassMutual retirement plan sponsor to inform their employees about the availability of the LifeBridge program," she adds.
MassMutual also offers a convenient onsite application event for large groups. For more information about the LifeBridge Free Life Insurance Program, please call (800) 272-2216 or visit www.massmutual.com/lifebridge. Existing MassMutual Retirement Services clients interested in learning more about the program can also request information from their MassMutual relationship manager.
-----
Community News You Can Use
Click to read MORE news:
www.GeorgiaFrontPage.com
Twitter: @gafrontpage & @TheGATable @HookedonHistory
www.ArtsAcrossGeorgia.com
Twitter: @artsacrossga, @softnblue, @RimbomboAAG
www.FayetteFrontPage.com
Twitter: @FayetteFP
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