Ensure fair insurance premiums for small groups. There are limits on:

• Vary initial premiums based on health status

• Limits on other rating factors: 200% band for age, gender, and area combined; use of health status, claims experience, duration, group size, and industry is prohibited
  

• Increase an employer's premiums when an employee gets sick

• Renewal rating follows same rules as initial rates
  
  

No

No

Ensure access to independent review:

• Consumers can demand independent external review of claims denials
  
  

No

Ensure appropriate access to care. Insurers must:

• Cover emergency services that a “prudent layperson” thought necessary
  
  
• Cover transitional care from a provider who leaves a network
  
  
• Cover non-formulary prescription drugs in certain situations
  
  
• Offer point-of-service option
  
  
• Allow direct access to OB-GYNs
  
  
• Cover cancer clinical trials (voluntary agreement)
  
  
  

No

No

No

No

No

No

Ensure marketing protections:

• Insurers must follow detailed requirements for marketing materials
  

No

Ensure health plans cover important benefits, such as:

• Mental health parity that goes beyond federal requirements
  
  
• Mammography screening
  
  
• Colorectal cancer screening
  
  
  
• Cervical cancer screening
  
  
• Well-child care Diabetes supplies and education
  
  
• Diabetes supplies and education
  
  
• Prompt payment rules
  
  

No

No

No

No

No

No

Ensure appropriate oversight of insurers:

• State handles complaints from consumers & providers
  
  
• State investigates, oversees, enforces rules (including financial penalties)
  
  

No

No$

Prevent failures and ensure payment of claims:

• Insurers must maintain financial surpluses that grow with size of insurer
  
  
• State oversees corrective action once insurer nears minimum standards
  
  
• State acts quickly to seize assets to pay claims
  
  

No ($2M cap)

No

No

Promote access for the uninsured:

• Mini-COBRA rules for small employers with fewer than 20 employees

No