Mini-Med Plans and Healthcare Reform
The below HHS bulletin may interest you. In June 2010, interim financial regulations imposed restriction on annual limits to Mini-Med Plans. These plans typically provide limited coverage with very low annual and lifetime limits on the amount of claims paid under the plan. The premiums are typically very low, in part, due to the limited nature of the coverage. Many organizations which offer these plans were concerned, that if the lifetime and annual limits are eliminated, the plan costs will increase substantially forcing the termination of these plans and the loss of coverage (albeit very limited) for these employees. In response to concerns, the Secretary of Health & Human Services has begun to allow request for waivers to the annual limit restrictions, if “compliance with the interim final regulations would result in a significant decrease in access to benefits, or a significant increase in premiums” . The below memo from HHS outlines the waiver request process that you may take, should you be interested in applying for the waiver.
If you are interested in alternate ways to insure those employees currently on a mini-med plan, Cravens Warren can assist you in researching alternatives.
