Health Reform Update: HHS Releases Rule on Grandfathering Health Plans

Health and Human Resources Secretary Sebelius released a new rule in Thursday’s Federal Registrar regarding the new regulation and the ability to keep your current health insurance plan. HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius emphasized during a press conference Monday that the interim final rule allows grandfathered plans to add benefits, but limits their ability to make changes, such as benefit cuts or large cost increases, that would negatively affect beneficiaries. Grandfathered plans do not have to comply with all of the new law's requirements, and HHS said the regulation would prevent insurers from misusing grandfathered status. It caps increases in co-pays and deductibles, for example, and bars grandfathered plans from adding new restrictions on the benefits it will provide.

For more information about this rule, read the fact sheet and the Q&A. 

To learn more about the Affordable Care Act, visit www.healthreform.gov.

Baucus Comment on New Rule Regarding "Grandfathered" Health Plans
Grassley: "Grandfathering" Rules Will Change Health Care Plans, Despite Promises