SIIA Responds to Request for Information Regarding Stop-Loss Insurance
June 21, 2012 – The Self-Insurance Institute of America, Inc. (SIIA) today filed a formal response to a Request for Information (RFI) regarding stop-loss insurance issued jointly by the U.S. Department of Labor, U.S. Health & Human Services Agency and the U.S. Department of Treasury. The RFI was prompted by concerns by health care reform proponents that the availability of stop-loss insurance with “low” attachment points will contribute to adverse selection in the health care marketplace and therefore comprise the viability of state health care exchanges scheduled to come on-line in 2014.
The full text of SIIA’s RFI response can be accessed on-line through the Members’ Only section of the association’s web site by clicking here. The document is a work product of SIIA’s government relations committee, which includes representatives from most of the leading stop-loss insurance carriers and other industry experts.
A team of SIIA members and professional lobbyists is scheduled to meet with key regulators next week in Washington, DC to discuss this response and address any questions they may have. During this meeting SIIA will also attempt to confirm the regulators’ intent on proposing any new rules that would affect self-insurance/stop-loss insurance.
In related news, U.S. Senators Olympia Snow (R-ME), Michael Enzi (R-WY) and Tom Coburn (R-OK) wrote to the tri-agency heads last week expressing concern that new regulation in this area would limit employer choice in providing health benefits to their workers and will result in more Americans losing coverage. The senators also questioned the regulators’ statutory authority to impose new rules not provided for as part of the Accountable Care Act.
SIIA’s RFI response and in-person follow-up meeting is a part of a broader association initiative to educate policy-makers, the media and health care industry stakeholders on how the self-insurance marketplace actually operates and the critical role of stop-loss insurance.
Please watch for additional exclusive reporting regarding stop-loss legislative/regulatory developments at both the federal and state level. Should you have any questions in the meantime, please contact SIIA Government Relations Director Jay Fahrer at 202/463-8161, or via e-mail at jfahrer@siia.org.
Finally, this subject matter will be addressed as part of SIIA’s upcoming National Conference & Expo, scheduled for October 1-3, 2012 in Indianapolis. The discounted early bird registration expires tomorrow, so you are encouraged to sign up now to attend if you have not already done so. Complete conference information can be accessed on-line at www.siia.org, or by calling 800/851-7789.