Legis Daily

A bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to provide protections for consumers against excessive, unjustified, or unfairly discriminatory increases in premium rates.

USA115th CongressS-1667| Senate 
| Updated: 7/27/2017
Dianne Feinstein

Dianne Feinstein

Democratic Senator

California

Cosponsors (2)
Tammy Duckworth (Democratic)Elizabeth Warren (Democratic)

Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Protecting Consumers from Unreasonable Rates Act This bill amends the Public Health Service Act to declare that the review by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) of unreasonable increases in health care coverage premiums does not prohibit a state from imposing on health insurers additional rate requirements that are more protective of consumers. The HHS review, which currently covers only premium increases, is expanded to include all rate increases. HHS or the relevant state agency must ensure that any excessive, unjustified, or unfairly discriminatory rates are corrected before, or as soon as possible after, implementation, including through mechanisms such as denying rates, modifying rates, or requiring rebates to consumers. HHS may apply civil monetary penalties to health insurers that fail to comply with a corrective action taken by HHS and may make the plan involved ineligible for classification as a qualified health plan. (Qualified health plans are sold on health insurance exchanges, are the only plans eligible for premium subsidies, and fulfill an individual's requirement to maintain minimum essential coverage.) HHS must determine whether HHS or the state will undertake the corrective actions based on whether the state can adequately undertake the actions. This bill applies to health plans grandfathered under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline
Jul 27, 2017
Introduced in Senate
Jul 27, 2017
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S4430-4431)
Jul 28, 2017

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 115-3450
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
  • July 27, 2017
    Introduced in Senate


  • July 27, 2017
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S4430-4431)


  • July 28, 2017

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 115-3450
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

Health

Related Bills

  • HR 115-3450: To amend the Public Health Service Act to provide protections for consumers against excessive, unjustified, or unfairly discriminatory increases in premium rates.
Consumer affairsDisability and health-based discriminationHealth care costs and insuranceInsurance industry and regulationState and local government operations

A bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to provide protections for consumers against excessive, unjustified, or unfairly discriminatory increases in premium rates.

USA115th CongressS-1667| Senate 
| Updated: 7/27/2017
Protecting Consumers from Unreasonable Rates Act This bill amends the Public Health Service Act to declare that the review by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) of unreasonable increases in health care coverage premiums does not prohibit a state from imposing on health insurers additional rate requirements that are more protective of consumers. The HHS review, which currently covers only premium increases, is expanded to include all rate increases. HHS or the relevant state agency must ensure that any excessive, unjustified, or unfairly discriminatory rates are corrected before, or as soon as possible after, implementation, including through mechanisms such as denying rates, modifying rates, or requiring rebates to consumers. HHS may apply civil monetary penalties to health insurers that fail to comply with a corrective action taken by HHS and may make the plan involved ineligible for classification as a qualified health plan. (Qualified health plans are sold on health insurance exchanges, are the only plans eligible for premium subsidies, and fulfill an individual's requirement to maintain minimum essential coverage.) HHS must determine whether HHS or the state will undertake the corrective actions based on whether the state can adequately undertake the actions. This bill applies to health plans grandfathered under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline
Jul 27, 2017
Introduced in Senate
Jul 27, 2017
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S4430-4431)
Jul 28, 2017

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 115-3450
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
  • July 27, 2017
    Introduced in Senate


  • July 27, 2017
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S4430-4431)


  • July 28, 2017

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 115-3450
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
Dianne Feinstein

Dianne Feinstein

Democratic Senator

California

Cosponsors (2)
Tammy Duckworth (Democratic)Elizabeth Warren (Democratic)

Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee

Health

Related Bills

  • HR 115-3450: To amend the Public Health Service Act to provide protections for consumers against excessive, unjustified, or unfairly discriminatory increases in premium rates.
  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Consumer affairsDisability and health-based discriminationHealth care costs and insuranceInsurance industry and regulationState and local government operations