Sebelius to AHIP: Enough with the Letters, Already

The Affordable Care Act ban on lifetime coverage limits, restrictions on rescissions, and requirements that plans that provide dependent coverage offer dependent coverage to adult children up to age 26 will take effect Sept. 23, Sebelius says. New preventive care requirements, such as requirements that plans cover many common vaccinations without imposing deductible or co-payment rules, also will be taking effect, she says.

But experts expect the effects of those provisions on 2011 premiums to be less

than 1% to 2%, Sebelius says.

In Pennsylvania, for example, Highmark Inc., Pittsburgh, estimates the changes will increase its costs by 1.14% to 2%, Sebelius says.

"Any premium increases will be moderated by out-of-pocket savings resulting from the law," Sebelius adds.

HHS officials have been using Affordable Care Act provisions to strengthen state insurance rate review efforts, and the department will be issuing a regulation that will "require state or federal review of all potentially unreasonable rate increases filed by health insurers, with the justification for increases posted publicly for consumers and employers," Sebelius says.

"We will also keep track of insurers with a record of unjustified rate increases," Sebelius says. "Those plans may be excluded from health insurance exchanges in 2014."