However, some plans and issuers have expressed concern regarding the difficulty of complying with the page limit while including all of the required information. Therefore, the final regulations provide that the Departments will address specific issues related to completing the four-page template, as well as the issues plans and issuers encounter while meeting these requirements, with the finalization of the new template and associated documents, separate from the final regulations.
The proposed regulations also included a number of changes to the content of the SBC and uniform glossary to reflect the ACA’s insurance market reforms. For example, references to annual limits for essential health benefits and pre-existing condition exclusions would be removed. In addition, the disclosures relating to continuation of coverage, minimum essential coverage and minimum value would be revised to provide more useful information to consumers, including those shopping in the individual market. These content changes were not finalized in the final regulations, but will likely be addressed when the new template and associated documents are finalized.
However, the final regulations do clarify that all plans and issuers must include the following on the SBC:
• Contact information for questions.
• A Web address where a copy of the actual individual coverage policy or group certificate of coverage can be reviewed and obtained.
These regulations finalize provisions in proposed regulations that were published on Dec. 30, 2014, in order to amend prior final regulations from Feb. 14, 2012. According to the Departments, the changes made by these final regulations are designed to improve consumers’ access to important health plan information and to provide clarification that will make it easier for group health plans and health insurance issuers to comply with the SBC requirement.
