Last Wednesday, the Florida Health Insurance Advisory Board (FHIAB) voted unanimously Send a set of policy recommendations developed by Florida Voices for Health to the State Legislature for consideration by the 2023 Congress.
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8 Consumer policy Recommendation Presented to FHIAB at its September meeting by Florida Voices for Health Program Director and FHIAB Board Member Louisa McQueeney.
Key policy recommendations approved by the Board include allowing the transfer of deductible medical credits between health plans, as well as allowing states to protect consumers from changes in prescription drug formularies during the policy year; and state mandates for group health insurance policies. Reduce the cost of insulin drugs.
One policy recommendation in the set is for states to allow the transfer of deductible medical credits. Florida Voices for Health recommends that the state allow insured persons to change health insurance plans mid-year and receive credit for copayments paid to their previous insurance company.
Florida Voices for Health commented on this recommendation, “The continued rise in annual health insurance deductibles for consumers means that new deductibles will need to start midway through the year, making it economically viable. There are difficulties,” he said.
“If a consumer changes health insurance plans outside of the open enrollment period, employers change plans outside of annual renewals, change employers, change geographic areas, Due to loss of coverage or purchase of individual coverage, the annual deductible starts over even if the consumer meets some or all of the accumulators out of his pocket.”
Another policy recommendation included in this set would require states to require providers to mail or email one free copy of their medical records when they request payment for the services they provide. is to
Florida Voices for Health explains: “Having your own medical records is especially important in the event of a dispute with an insurance company, a denied claim, or a patient in precarious financial circumstances. It should reduce health insurance costs for both.”
Another policy recommendation is for states to prohibit insurance companies from changing or removing covered prescription drugs during the policy year. Florida Voices for Health said the recommendation was made primarily in response to changes in drug formularies made by insurers during recent coverage periods.
“Insurers regularly reclassify medicines into: [better] Access restricted drug tiers, increase consumer copays, co-insurance or deductibles, and reclassify drugs to higher cost sharing tiers. There are also instances where certain drugs are completely excluded from coverage. Then, midway through the policy year, the consumer will be notified by email that the consumer will be financially responsible for the full cost drug. ”
An additional policy recommendation included in this set is that beginning in 2023, the state will limit the insured’s monthly cost-sharing obligation for covered prescription insulin drugs to $35 for individual and group health plans. It’s a policy requirement.
Florida Voices for Health emphasized that this cost cap would significantly reduce health care costs for Floridians.
“The Inflation Reduction Act, recently signed into law, will cut the cost of insulin for Medicare subscribers to $35 or less a month starting in 2023, which includes insulin pumps. It does not apply to group health plans.The cost of insulin, which has existed for 100 years, is 10 times higher in the United States than in any other developed country, creating a huge financial burden for Floridians who cannot live without it. It is a burden.”
