House subcommittee considers insurance market reforms

The House Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee today held a hearing on draft legislation to reform the health insurance markets. The proposals would require patients to pre-verify their eligibility for special enrollment periods; allow states to reduce the grace period for subsidized coverage; revise the age-rating ratio; and prohibit individual and group health plans from limiting or excluding benefits related to preexisting conditions if the Affordable Care Act is repealed. Under the ACA, the age rating ratio is 3:1, meaning that an insurer cannot charge an older adult more than three times the amount it charges a younger adult for the same plan. The draft legislation would create a national 5:1 ratio but allow for state flexibility.