October 04, 2016
On Aug. 25, 2016, Gov. signed SB 923 into law. This law prohibits health plans and insurers in the individual and small group markets from changing the cost-sharing design during the plan year except when required by state or federal law. Under current law, health plans and insurers are prohibited from changing the premium rates in a given “rate year.” This new law extends that protection to a plan’s cost-sharing design as well. For purposes of this legislation, cost-sharing refers to what the copays or coinsurance are for a specific benefit: For example, the copay for a generic drug is $10 or $25; the copay for the brand name drug is $20 or $50 while the coinsurance for a hospital stay is 20 percent of the cost.
SB 923 is effective on Jan. 1, 2017.
SB 923 »