More Protections
for Health Care Consumers
The Maine Legislature passed a bill this session that gives more protections to
consumers of health care, LD 1205 ‘An Act to Establish a Health Care Bill
of Rights’. The new law should help people know what’s covered and
what’s excluded BEFORE they purchase a health insurance policy.
This information lets people make informed choices about what health care coverage is
best for them.
The bill increases disclosure or “transparency”
by insurance companies. It gives the state’s
insurance superintendent more authority to
oversee rate increases by the insurers. It also
helps consumers compare health insurance
plans more easily. The new law goes into
effect in September 2009.
The new consumer protections require insurance companies to:
- List their five top-selling plans to individuals and their five top-selling small
business health plans on a public Web site;
- Provide people with more detailed information when claims are denied or
paid;
- Make available to the public certain documents that they file with the State
when asking to increase their rates; and
- Cover prescription drugs that were covered by a previous insurer when a
consumer switches from one company to another. The drugs may be covered for up
to six months.
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