Comment on Health Insurance Disclosure Forms
Please consider submitting comments by October 11, 2011 on a proposed federal rule which includes a new consumer-friendly health insurance disclosure form and a glossary for insurance companies to use.
- Sample of the Summary Benefits and Coverage form (PDF)
- Sample of the Uniform Glossary (PDF)
- Text of the proposed rule, as published in the Federal Register
Reports on the new forms
Consumer testing shows that these forms are a major step forward for consumers, but there is more to be done. Major issues for consumers include requiring the disclosure to be used by all private health plans (group and non-group) and additional testing to ensure that the information on the form is as accessible as possible to a broad range of consumers, including attention to plain language, clear design and language access issues, prior to the on-time roll out of the form in March of 2012.
- Early Consumer Testing of the Coverage Facts Label: A New Way of Comparing Health Insurance (PDF) – a report by Consumers Union and Kleimann Communications Group
A review of the current form by ThoughtForm provides illuminating examples of how the SBC could be designed to be even clearer.
- Summary of Coverage Critique (PDF) – a review of the current form by ThoughtForm
How to comment
Comments are due to HHS by October 21st, 2011.
You can file your comments:
- Online at http://www.regulations.gov – search for ID: CMS-9982-P
- By postal mail to:
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
Department of Health and Human Services
Room 445-G, Hubert H. Humphrey Building
200 Independence Avenue, SW.,
Washington, DC 20201
Refer to ID CMS-9982-P
