Consumer groups press Obama for quick action on insurance plan explanations

Groups representing seniors and consumers are urging the Obama administration to stick with the healthcare law’s tough requirements for health plans to disclose coverage information to consumers.

In particular, the groups wrote in a letter to the president, the final regulation should:

• Be implemented as soon as possible, “well in advance” of health plans’ open enrollment period this fall;

• Apply to all plans in all markets, “including self-insured and grandfathered plans”;

• Require plans to give multiple coverage examples “because of the enormous array of needs and concerns among consumers”; and 

• Include premium information.

The letter was signed by the AARP, Consumers Union, the American Heart Association, the American Diabetes Association and the American Cancer Society. It was first obtained by Kaiser Health News.