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Consumers Union Comment Letter to HHS on Health Insurance Market Rules and Rate Review (PDF)

"Consumers Union commends HHS for establishing standard rules with respect to fair health insurance premiums, which will apply uniformly to both the individual and small group markets inside and outside Exchanges.... Consumers Union encourages HHS to add ... language that makes explicit that a state may decline using tobacco use as a rating factor altogether, in addition to permitting states to use a ratio narrower than 1.5:1.... Consumers Union believes that relying solely on 'state-specific' thresholds 'based on factors impacting rate increases in a State' will be unlikely to prod issuers or providers to control costs."

Testimony of Consumers Union on Consumer-Driven Health Care

Excerpt: So-called 'consumer driven' health care plans, which have defining features of high-deductible coverage and (possibly) tax-advantaged employer contributions to health reimbursement or savings accounts, may create serious problems for the U.S. health care system. Consumers Union believes that this coverage is misnamed, misguided from a policy perspective, and a dangerous distraction from the need to solve the health insurance crisis that faces 43.6 million uninsured consumers ...

Consumers Union Comment Letter to HHS on Proposed Regs Implementing Insurance Market Rules and Rate Review (PDF)

Consumers Union Recommendations: "Revise the regulation to cap the number of rating areas a state may propose as an alternative to (b)(3) at no more than fifteen rating areas.... Add a provision that triggers a special enrollment period 30 days in advance of a known triggering event. Extend the time frame for special enrollment to 60 days from the triggering event. When an insurer is responsible for the triggering event, require the insurer to provide 14 day advance notice to consumers before a special enrollment period commences.... [D]evelop strict standards to measure, evaluate, and penalize a health insurance issuer, employee, agent or other party acting on behalf of the issuer that is undertaking marketing practices that discourage enrollment of individuals with significant health needs in health insurance coverage."

Consumers Union Comment Letter to CMS on Health Care Quality for Exchanges (PDF)

"[Consumers Union urges] that Exchanges provide measures that inform consumers whether issuers are operating in a manner that would facilitate enrollees in getting the care they need, responding to complaints or appeals, and running a business that truly serves its customers ... [CU recommends] that Exchanges provide measures that inform consumers whether the health care providers within the insurers' networks are providing care of high quality and safety[.]"

Consumers Union Statement at Hearing on Health Savings Accounts, June 28, 2006 (PDF)

9 pages. Excerpt: Consumers Union, the independent non-profit publisher of Consumer Reports, opposes more public expenditure of limited tax dollars on health savings accounts (HSAs). [They] believe that HSAs are harmful from a societal point of view and to those who most need helpwith health care expenses.

Consumers Union: Texas HMO Study Shows Independent Review Laws Work for Plan Participants

Excerpt: Texas consumers benefit when they ask for independent review of their health maintenance organizations' care denials, a Consumers Union study released [May 7, 2002] says. But the rate of overturned cases for certain medical conditions indicates that some consumers may not be getting the health care coverage they need. Among the areas are mental illness, gastric bypass, eating disorders and substance abuse care.

Consumers Union Calls for Speedy Passage of Generic Drug Legislation

Excerpt: Consumers Union, the nonprofit publisher of Consumer Reports magazine, today called on a Senate health committee to approve generic-drug legislation before Congress adjourns for the Memorial Day recess.

Consumers Union Disappointed In U.S. House Patient Protection Bill

"Under the original bill, consumers take their grievances to an outside reviewer. If the reviewer sides with the HMO, consumers have the option of taking the complaint to court. But the Norwood amendment says if the external reviewer sides with the HMO, patients cannot get full review by a court unless they produce 'clear and convincing evidence' of the HMO's wrongdoing."

Consumers Union Comment Letter to HHS on Proposed Standards for Essential Health Benefits, Actuarial Value, and Accreditation (PDF)

"[Consumers Union] strongly support[s] the following provisions of the proposed rule: [1] Selection of a single actuarial value (AV) calculator to ensure uniformity when measuring health plan coverage levels; [2] A robust standard for measuring employer minimum value; and [3] A strong process for identifying state EHB-benchmark plan designs. However, to realize the full promise of health reform, [CU urges] revision of some of the proposed regulations, particularly those dealing with the AV calculator, benefit substitution for essential health benefits (EHB), and anti-discrimination provisions."

Consumers Union Recommends Protections Under Health Insurance Exchanges Allowing Web-Based Agents and Brokers (PDF)

"In order to avoid the potential pitfalls described [in this article], when web-based brokers offer Exchange plans policymakers should: Require Consistency Between Web-based Broker Displays and the Exchange... Avoid Conflicts of Interest and Promote Transparency... Protect Consumer Privacy and Security."