Today's announcement is good news for the more than 800,000 Californians who could have been hit with massive rate increases and gives them some much-needed temporary relief. Since these rate hikes were first announced, I have heard from countless Americans who have been stretched to the limit by high health insurance premiums. This result was achieved because those who oversee the insurance industry on the state and federal levels heard these voices, held investigations, and demanded action.
The Affordable Care Act will ensure that people across this country have access to the affordable, quality care they deserve. As we implement this law, our Department, and especially our new Office of Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight, will closely monitor the industry, and we will not hesitate to act to prevent exorbitant premium hikes.
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Showing posts with label statement. Show all posts
Showing posts with label statement. Show all posts
Friday, April 30, 2010
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius on WellPoint's Decision to Ban Rescissions in Advance of the Affordable Care Act's Requirement
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius released the following statement today on WellPoint's announcement that it intends to end the practice of rescinding patients' coverage in advance of the Affordable Care Act's requirement that insurers stop this practice starting this fall. WellPoint's announcement comes after Secretary Sebelius sent a letter on April 22 urging the company to immediately stop the practice of rescinding coverage for patients who become ill.
The Affordable Care Act will specifically prohibit insurance companies from rescinding policies, except in cases of fraud or intentional misrepresentation of material fact.
STATEMENT OF SECRETARY SEBELIUS
"Last week, when I heard reports of one insurer - WellPoint - targeting breast cancer victims for rescission of their policies, I challenged the company and the rest of the insurance industry to do what they have done with other key insurance reforms in the bill and not wait until September to do the right thing.
The last thing someone who is really sick needs to hear is that they are being dropped by their insurer because they got sick and tried to use the policy they purchased.
I was encouraged to learn today that WellPoint has announced it will act to stop rescissions and no longer engage in this practice as of the end of this week. I urge other insurers to also accelerate the Affordable Care Act's deadline for ending this practice and stop rescinding patients' policies immediately."
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The Affordable Care Act will specifically prohibit insurance companies from rescinding policies, except in cases of fraud or intentional misrepresentation of material fact.
STATEMENT OF SECRETARY SEBELIUS
"Last week, when I heard reports of one insurer - WellPoint - targeting breast cancer victims for rescission of their policies, I challenged the company and the rest of the insurance industry to do what they have done with other key insurance reforms in the bill and not wait until September to do the right thing.
The last thing someone who is really sick needs to hear is that they are being dropped by their insurer because they got sick and tried to use the policy they purchased.
I was encouraged to learn today that WellPoint has announced it will act to stop rescissions and no longer engage in this practice as of the end of this week. I urge other insurers to also accelerate the Affordable Care Act's deadline for ending this practice and stop rescinding patients' policies immediately."
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Thursday, September 17, 2009
Senate Finance Committee Plan Goes Far To Achieve Reform But New Taxes Raise Affordability Concerns
/PRNewswire/ -- Scott P. Serota, president and chief executive officer of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association (BCBSA), issued the following statement regarding the chairman's mark released yesterday by Chairman Max Baucus (D-MT) and members of the Senate Finance Committee:
"We strongly support healthcare reforms that expand coverage to everyone, improve quality, and rein in costs. This chairman's mark achieves many of these goals.
"The mark addresses many necessary insurance reforms, the foundation of which is a proposal advocated by BCBSA to guarantee coverage to everyone, regardless of pre-existing conditions. We commend Chairman Baucus for including in his mark a personal responsibility requirement to obtain and maintain coverage -- the linchpin to making insurance reforms work.
"We also support the mark's age rating provision which allows discounts to young people to encourage them to purchase coverage. Age rating provisions in other bills would preclude these discounts and would result in major premium increases to young people causing many to forgo coverage. Making insurance affordable for young people, who account for as much as 40 percent of those without insurance, is critical to reducing the number of uninsured and will help to lower the cost of health insurance for everyone, including older Americans.
"We strongly support the goal of making coverage affordable. However, we are greatly concerned that burdensome new taxes and fees aimed at insurers and other healthcare industry stakeholders would severely undermine the reforms that the chairman's mark aims to achieve. These unprecedented new taxes would make coverage much less affordable for individuals, their families, and employers.
"We look forward to continuing a vigorous and productive discussion with the Senate Finance Committee. This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to achieve meaningful and sustainable change in our healthcare system, and BCBSA will continue to advocate for reforms that expand access to everyone, improve quality, and rein in costs."
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"We strongly support healthcare reforms that expand coverage to everyone, improve quality, and rein in costs. This chairman's mark achieves many of these goals.
"The mark addresses many necessary insurance reforms, the foundation of which is a proposal advocated by BCBSA to guarantee coverage to everyone, regardless of pre-existing conditions. We commend Chairman Baucus for including in his mark a personal responsibility requirement to obtain and maintain coverage -- the linchpin to making insurance reforms work.
"We also support the mark's age rating provision which allows discounts to young people to encourage them to purchase coverage. Age rating provisions in other bills would preclude these discounts and would result in major premium increases to young people causing many to forgo coverage. Making insurance affordable for young people, who account for as much as 40 percent of those without insurance, is critical to reducing the number of uninsured and will help to lower the cost of health insurance for everyone, including older Americans.
"We strongly support the goal of making coverage affordable. However, we are greatly concerned that burdensome new taxes and fees aimed at insurers and other healthcare industry stakeholders would severely undermine the reforms that the chairman's mark aims to achieve. These unprecedented new taxes would make coverage much less affordable for individuals, their families, and employers.
"We look forward to continuing a vigorous and productive discussion with the Senate Finance Committee. This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to achieve meaningful and sustainable change in our healthcare system, and BCBSA will continue to advocate for reforms that expand access to everyone, improve quality, and rein in costs."
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