Any day now, we’re expecting to hear the Supreme Court’s verdict on the healthcare reform law. But regardless of how it rules, one large insurance company will continue to follow five of the law’s most popular provisions.
UnitedHealthcare just announced it’ll extend five healthcare reform law protections to its customers, even if the law is scrapped by the Supreme Court.
The protections the insurer is promising to uphold are ones that’ve scored high on public opinion polls.
The provisions UnitedHealthcare has promised to extend to “current and future customers and members”:
- Preventive services without cost sharing. UnitedHealthcare says preventive health services — including screenings for things like high-blood pressure and diabetes, and immunizations recommended by the American Committee on Immunization Practices — helps control costs, so it’ll continue to provide them without co-pays or deductibles.
- Covering dependent children up to age 26. UnitedHealthcare says it’ll continue to offer coverage for these dependents, regardless of their eligibility for other insurance.
- Eliminating lifetime dollar limits. The insurer says it’ll continue its practice of not imposing lifetime dollar limits on policies.
- No rescissions. It will not rescind individual coverage, except in cases of fraud or intentional misrepresentation.
- Appeals. Individuals will be able to seek third-party appeals when payment for treatments is denied.
“These provisions make sense for the people we serve, and it is important to ensure they know these provisions will continue,” said Stephen J. Hemsley, president and CEO of UnitedHealth Group, in a release.
Pre-exhisting conditions
One reform mandate UnitedHealthcare did not say it’ll extend is the one banning insurers from turn away individuals with pre-exhisting conditions.
UnitedHealthcare did say, however, it recognizes the value of offering coverage to children up to age 19 regardless of pre-exhisting conditions, but went on to explain that “one company acting alone cannot take that step, so UnitedHealthcare is committed to working with all other participants in the health care system to sustain that coverage.”
