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Rep Anna Eshoo

Rep. Eshoo Gives Important Update on Your Individual Health Insurance Policy

November 19, 2013
e-Newsletters

Dear Friends,

Last week, President Obama announced important news about your health insurance. Because this is such an important announcement that affects millions of Americans, including those who purchase their health insurance policies in the individual market, I want to spell out the changes the President implemented through his Enforcement Discretion. Here is what you need to know:

  1. In response to concerns from individuals who have received cancellation notices from their insurance company because their policy did not meet the standards of the Affordable Care Act, President Obama is allowing insurers to offer consumers the option to keep their 2013 health insurance plans into 2014, without change. For example, if your insurer renews your plan on October 1st of every year, your plan would be renewed through October 1, 2014.
  2. Insurers must notify their enrollees that they can purchase coverage through Covered California, regardless of whether they qualify for subsidies or not.
  3. Insurers must inform consumers what protections they are giving up to keep the plan they have.
  4. It is ultimately the decision of the health insurance carrier to renew policies, and regulators in each state to approve this change.

I care deeply about the success of comprehensive health insurance reform and I want it to work for all Californians. I’ve shared the many concerns and individual stories of my constituents with the Administration to make this change, and I’m pleased with the President’s proposal to allow people to keep their policies for another year. This will give individuals more time to examine their health insurance options in Covered California which offers side-by-side comparisons of plans at a variety of price points, as well as subsidies to those who are eligible.

Should you have any questions regarding your health insurance, my staff and I stand ready to assist you in any way we can. You can call my office at (650) 323-2984 (Palo Alto) or (202) 225-8104 (Washington, D.C.).

Sincerely,
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Anna G. Eshoo
Member of Congress