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Sen. Bob Casey warns consumers about confusing health insurance ads
Dawn Ouellette Nixon//November 19, 2019
Sen. Bob Casey warns consumers about confusing health insurance ads
Dawn Ouellette Nixon//November 19, 2019//
Listen to this articleIt’s open enrollment season for health insurance in America, which runs from Nov. 1 through Dec. 15. As health care consumers are shopping for health plans, U.S. Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA) is warning the public not to confuse the insurance plans featured in some online advertisements with the health insurance that can be purchased on the federal HealthCare.gov. website.
The sponsored advertisements can be confusing for health care consumers, Casey said at a press conference on Nov. 18 at Casa Guadalupe, a social services center in Allentown.
Teresa Miller, secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services, joined Casey in expressing concern about misleading health insurance ads at the event.
Casey stated that the advertised short-term limited duration insurance plans (STLD), which are permitted to exclude those with pre-existing conditions, are not able to be purchased through HealthCare.gov, but can be purchased through other websites, agents and brokers.
Under current regulations, consumer protections like limits on out-of-pocket expenses do not apply to the STLD plans. STLD plans also do not need to meet the minimum essential coverage standard under the Affordable Care Act.
Casey urged consumers to be aware that advertisements for STLD plans often use “HealthCare.gov” in the website title, despite having no affiliation with Healthcare.gov, making it difficult for individuals to differentiate between paid advertisements and search results.
