Smart Benefits: Carriers Step Up No Matter What Supreme Court Says
Monday, June 18, 2012
The Supreme Court is expected to release its ruling this week on healthcare reform. Meanwhile, 3 carriers have pledged to honor certain provisions of reform no matter what the decision.
Preventive Care Prevents Higher Costs
While parts of the healthcare reform law have been controversial, and hotly contested, the consensus is that the preventive care facets make sense for the consumers who receive the care – and for health insurers providing the coverage. That’s because it’s widely accepted that treating a well patient is less costly than treating a sick one. Early detection is an important element of keeping patients healthy, and free preventive care aids in improving access and affordability for everyone.
Carrier Coverage Commitments
According to their announcements, UnitedHealthcare and Humana will continue to offer:
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST- Annual preventive visits and age appropriate health screenings (i.e. mammograms and colonoscopies) in full with no copays or deductibles
- Dependent coverage to age 26
- No lifetime limits on benefits
- No rescission of coverage, except for fraud
And Aetna has announced it will honor dependent coverage to age 26.
None of the carriers have committed to covering pre-existing conditions. On that issue, United has stated that, to cover pre-existing conditions for children under age 19, it will want industry-wide agreement that all carriers do as well.
Free Contraception?
Separately this week, UnitedHealthcare announced the list of contraceptives it will cover in full to meet the provisions of healthcare reform which go into effect later this summer for plan years starting and renewing August 1, 2012.
There’s no word yet if UnitedHealthcare will honor this provision if the Supreme Court repeals healthcare reform since free contraception has been a contentious issue and at the core of the healthcare reform debate since its announcement in February.
Amy Gallagher has over 19 years of healthcare industry experience. As Vice President at Cornerstone Group, she advises large employers on long-term cost-containment strategies, consumer-driven solutions and results-driven wellness programs. Amy speaks regularly on a variety of healthcare-related topics, is a member of local organizations like the Rhode Island Business Group on Health, HRM-RI, SHRM, WELCOA, and the Rhode Island Business Healthcare Advisory Council, and participates in the Lieutenant Governor’s Health Benefits Exchange work group of the Health Care Reform Commission.
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