Revamping Health Benefit Mandates: What Lawmakers’ Review Means for You » CBIA

The Insurance and Real Estate Committee of the General Assembly is looking to change how health benefit mandates are reviewed. They want to make the process clearer and gather more input from people involved.

A new proposal, known as HB 6895, aims to ensure that the committee examines all mandated health benefits that go through public hearings. They also plan to create a list of these mandates so the Insurance Department can analyze their costs and benefits.

Once the department finishes its analysis, the committee may hold a public hearing. This would give people a chance to ask questions and share their thoughts on the findings.

Connecticut is among the top three states for mandated healthcare benefits. These mandates can increase insurance costs for employers, as each new requirement expands coverage that insurers must provide. On average, mandated benefits add over $2,000 each year to health insurance premiums in the state.

Grace Brangwynne from CBIA strongly supports this bill, emphasizing that health benefit mandates raise premium costs that ultimately affect employees. She stated, “Benefit reviews allow lawmakers to consider the impact of health benefit mandates before they are implemented.”

Here are the main points of HB 6895:

• Annual Reviews: The Insurance Commissioner and the Commissioner of Health Strategy will conduct yearly reviews of mandated health benefits.
• Cost and Quality Evaluation: These reviews will look at both the quality and costs associated with the mandates, especially their impact on small employers.
• Public Hearing: The Insurance Committee can request public feedback based on the results of the cost-benefit analyses performed on each mandate.

This bill marks a pivotal advancement in how health benefit mandates are assessed. It aims to shield both employees and employers, particularly small businesses, from unexpected healthcare cost hikes.

For further inquiries, reach out to CBIA’s Grace Brangwynne at 860.244.1163.