Statement by Consumers for Quality Care Board Following the Issuance of the Short-Term, Limited-Duration Insurance Final Rule

By Consumers for Quality Care, on August 1, 2018

WASHINGTON – Today, Consumers for Quality Care (CQC), a coalition of advocates and former policy makers committed to providing a voice for patients in the health care debate, issued the following statement in response to the Departments of Treasury, Labor, and Health and Human Services finalizing the short-term, limited-duration insurance rule.

“By expanding access to short-term, limited-duration insurance, the administration is eroding quality care for consumers and putting the health of hundreds of thousands of Americans at risk. These low-quality plans may lack comprehensive, essential coverage like maternity care or mental health treatment and allow insurers to deny coverage based on preexisting conditions.

“While the administration touts short-term plans as a more affordable option for consumers, these plans are simply an illusion of coverage. Unsuspecting patients who are looking for a low premium may not realize short-term health plans may not protect them when they are sick, leaving them with large surprise bills for uncovered care.

“Along with hundreds of other patient advocate and consumer groups, CQC was proud to submit a comment letter in opposition to the proposed rule in April and we will continue to voice our opposition to the administration’s efforts to strip down quality coverage for vulnerable consumers. We urge state regulators to refrain from approving these plans from being sold in their states, as the health of thousands of their residents is at stake.”

To read CQC’s comment letter on the Short-Term, Limited-Duration Insurance Proposed Rule, visit https://consumers4qualitycare.org/news_room/cqc-comments-on-stldi-proposed-rule/

To learn more about CQC, visit www.consumers4qualitycare.org