Insurers agree to limit health care cancelations The Associated Press
INDIANAPOLIS — Several health insurers said Wednesday they plan an early start on a slice of health care reform by pledging to limit the circumstances in which they cancel coverage when a customer gets sick.
UnitedHealth Group Inc., Humana Inc. and Blue Shield of California all said they will drop, or rescind, coverage only in cases where a patient has committed fraud or intentional misrepresentation.
The health care reform legislation passed last month by Congress limits rescission to cases of fraud. But that provision won't take effect until Sept. 23.
UnitedHealth, based in Minnetonka, Minn., said it will limit its use of rescission immediately. Blue Shield plans to start in May, and Louisville, Ky.-based Humana said it already restricts rescission to fraud cases.
Another insurer, WellPoint Inc., said Tuesday it will start following the guideline May 1.
Laws on rescission currently vary by state. In some cases, an insurer can cancel coverage for material misrepresentation, which can be an unintentional mistake filling out a form.
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