Ask your Senators to Cosponsor Legislation to Protect Consumers from Junk Insurance Plans

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A year into the COVID-19 pandemic, it is more important than ever that Americans with kidney disease have access to affordable health insurance that covers all of their needs. Currently, not all insurance plans are required to follow the consumer protections mandated by the Affordable Care Act. These “junk” health insurance plans include short-term, limited duration (STLD) health plans, health care sharing ministries, and some association health plans (AHPs), all of which are not required to offer preventive services, coverage of essential health benefits or include annual out-of-pocket maximums. Sometimes the consumer is not even aware of the limits until the coverage is needed.

Many of these junk plans use advertising that is misleading to consumers, claiming to be comprehensive or ACA compliant. Additionally, a secret shopper investigation from the Government Accountability Office found that brokers and agents were lying to consumers about what plans covered in order to enroll them in junk plans.

S.1002, the Junk Plans Accountability and Disclosure Act of 2021, seeks to increase the accountability and disclosure requirements for junk health care plans, as well as to ensure that consumers receive more information about their insurance options and what would be considered comprehensive health insurance coverage. This bill would do this in the following ways:

  1. Increasing Federal Trade Commission oversight with regards to false or misleading online advertisements;

  2. Creating warning and disclosure requirements for junk health care plans to ensure that consumers are aware that they are not signing up for comprehensive coverage;

  3. Providing additional funding for open enrollment outreach and education to inform consumers about enrolling in ACA plans and finding the right coverage for their health care needs.

It is critically important that consumers are fully informed about what health insurance plans they are enrolled in and what those health insurance plans cover. Please contact your Senators today and ask them to cosponsor this important piece of legislation.

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Question - Not Required - What is your connection to kidney disease?

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Message

Please cosponsor S.1002, the Junk Plans Accountability and Disclosure Act of 2021

Dear [Decision Maker],



As your constituent and a person who has been impacted by kidney disease, I am writing to ask you to cosponsor S.1002, the Junk Plans Accountability and Disclosure Act of 2021. This important piece of legislation will provide increased consumer protections against junk health insurance plans, ensuring that anyone who wants comprehensive health insurance coverage is informed on how to find the plans that best suit their health needs.

In the second year of the coronavirus pandemic, it is more important than ever that consumers have access to comprehensive health insurance. However, there are "junk" insurance plans that do not have to follow the strict consumer protection requirements under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), such as preventive services, coverage of essential health benefits, or annual out-of-pocket maximums. These "junk" plans can include short term limited duration (STLD) health plans, health care sharing ministries, and some association health plans (AHPs). Many consumers are not aware of the difference between these and comprehensive health plans and only realize the limits when they get sick and coverage is needed.

Many of these junk plans use advertising that is misleading to consumers, claiming to be comprehensive or ACA compliant. Additionally, a secret shopper investigation from the Government Accountability Office found that brokers and agents were lying to consumers about what plans covered in order to enroll them in junk plans. With the limited oversight that is currently provided to plans like these, there is no way to ensure that consumers are protected from being misled into signing up for plans that do not suit their needs.

S.1002, the Junk Plans Accountability and Disclosure Act of 2021, seeks to increase the accountability and disclosure requirements for junk health care plans, as well as to ensure that consumers receive more information about their insurance options and what would be considered comprehensive health insurance coverage. This bill would do this in the following ways:

(1) Increasing Federal Trade Commission oversight with regards to false or misleading online advertisements;

(2) Creating warning and disclosure requirements for junk health care plans to ensure that consumers are aware that they are not signing up for comprehensive coverage;

(3) Providing additional funding for open enrollment outreach and education to inform consumers about enrolling in ACA plans and finding the right coverage for their health care needs.

It is critically important that consumers are fully informed about what health insurance plans they are enrolled in and able to access comprehensive coverage if they so desire. Please co-sponsor S.1002 to protect American consumers from junk health insurance plans.

Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your Address]
[City, State ZIP]