Search the News Archive

Comment Letter by the ERISA Working Group of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, to NAIC ERISA Working Group on Draft Guideline Amendments to the Stop Loss Insurance Model Act (PDF)

Comments on proposed updates to stop loss model provisions and their effect on self-insurance, particularly for small employers, in light of ACA requirements, submitted by AHIP; Blue Cross Blue Shield; Chambers of Commerce from Illinois, Pennsylvania, Texas and California; Cigna; Protect Health Care Choice Coalition; The Council of Insurance Agents & Brokers; HCC Life Insurance Company; Self-Insurance Institute of America, Inc.; American Insurance Association; and consumer representatives.

Statement by National Association of Insurance Commissioners on Non-Compliant Health Plan Extensions

"State regulators are committed to ensuring consumers have access to stable insurance markets in every state. We share the President's and Congress' concerns about policy cancellations and the anxiety of the residents of our states when they receive cancellation notices. However, we remain concerned about the negative impact this could have on the overall market. While we appreciate that this delay only applies to renewals and not new sales, thus limiting its adverse impact on the marketplace, it still has the potential to create confusion surrounding available options for health insurance and uncertainty in the restructured marketplace."

American Academy of Actuaries Comment Letter to National Association of Insurance Commissioners on Accounting for Post-Retirement Benefits Other than Pensions (PDF)

"On behalf of the Joint Committee on Retiree Health and Pension Accounting Committee of the American Academy of Actuaries', we appreciate the opportunity to provide comments to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) on the exposure drafts of Statements of Statutory Accounting Principles (SSAP) No. 92 and No. 102, which are intended to replace existing standards governing accounting for pension benefits and postretirement benefits other than pensions (OPEBs)."

National Association of Insurance Commissioners to Review Pharmacy Benefit Management in 2016

"[T]he National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) ... 2016 work plan for its Health Insurance and Managed Care (B) Committee ... [includes] among other things, 'review and, if necessary, consider revisions to the Health Carrier Prescription Drug Benefit Management Model Act (#22) -- adopted in 2003 -- to address issues related to: [1] transparency, accuracy and disclosure regarding prescription drug formularies and formulary changes during a policy year; [2] accessibility of prescription drug benefits using a variety of pharmacy options; and [3] tiered prescription drug formularies and discriminatory benefit design.' ... [C]ommittee members indicated support for soliciting initial public comments from interested stakeholders in January, and to begin periodic conference calls in February to consider changes to the model."

National Association of Insurance Commissioners Comment Letter to HHS on Proposed Health Insurance Market Rules and Rate Reviews (PDF)

"While subsidies and higher cost-sharing options may be of some assistance, in most states, these populations could have their individual market rates rise considerably in 2014. This potential "rate shock" could, in turn, result in their leaving the marketplace, even with the penalties, which are quite low in the first years. States need as much flexibility as possible under the law to work with issuers to address this problem."

National Association of Insurance Commissioners Issues Overview of 'Grandfathered Plans' Issues (PDF)

3 pages. Excerpt: A related question will be whether or not states may change state laws governing grandfathered plans, and if so, whether compliance with these changes would cause plans to lose their grandfathered status. These questions are likely to be resolved during the regulatory process by [HHS].

National Association of Insurance Commissioners Defers the Worst Insurance Industry Demands for Weakening the Implementation of Health Care Reform

"Today the NAIC took a step toward ending the health insurance companies' stranglehold on our health care. The top state insurance regulators from across the nation voted to put patient care above insurance company profits."

Comment Letter to National Association of Insurance Commissioners on Proposed Revisions of Accounting for Pensions and Other Postretirement Benefits (PDF)

3 pages. "The Joint Committee on Retiree Health and the Pension Accounting Committee jointly submitted comments to the NAIC regarding the exposure draft of SSAP 92 ... and proposed revisions to SSAP 89 (pensions)."

Implementing the Affordable Care Act's Insurance Reforms: Consumer Recommendations for Regulators and Lawmakers (PDF)

"These materials were prepared to assist regulators, lawmakers, and the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) during ongoing implementation of the comprehensive insurance reforms called for by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 (ACA). The purpose of these recommendations is to convey the perspectives of consumer advocates on appropriate standards and guidelines for implementing these reforms, which will go into effect in 2014." [56 page list and detailed discussion prepared by 20 consumer groups, including American Heart Association, Consumers Union, Insurance Law Center at Univ. of Connecticut School of Law, and others.]

NAIC Considers PBM Regulation; Additional Requirements Possibly on Tap

"Pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) should consider the implications of a model law making its way through the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) that would establish a licensure requirement and rules of conduct for these participants in the health care marketplace. A number of states have already adopted their own PBM laws, and an NAIC model would be likely to motivate others to do so."