Healthcare Freedom and Choice Act
2/12/2025, 7:38 PMSummary of Bill HR 379
Bill 119 hr 379 aims to nullify a specific rule related to short-term, limited-duration insurance and independent, noncoordinated excepted benefits coverage. The rule in question was published in the Federal Register on April 3, 2024, under the title "Short-Term, Limited-Duration Insurance and Independent, Noncoordinated Excepted Benefits Coverage." This bill seeks to declare that this rule should no longer be in effect.The rule in question likely pertains to regulations surrounding short-term health insurance plans and certain types of benefits coverage that are exempt from certain requirements under the Affordable Care Act. By nullifying this rule, the bill may impact the availability and regulations surrounding these types of insurance plans and benefits coverage.
It is important to note that the specific details and implications of this rule and its nullification are not provided in the summary of the bill. However, it is clear that the bill seeks to eliminate the rule and potentially change the regulations surrounding short-term, limited-duration insurance and independent, noncoordinated excepted benefits coverage.
Congressional Summary of HR 379
Healthcare Freedom and Choice Act
This bill nullifies a rule regarding short-term, limited-duration health insurance plans. The rule was promulgated by the Internal Revenue Service, Employee Benefits Security Administration, and Department of Health and Human Services; is titled Short-Term, Limited-Duration Insurance and Independent, Noncoordinated Excepted Benefits Coverage; and was published April 3, 2024.
Short-term, limited-duration health insurance plans are plans that may only offer coverage for a limited amount of time and are exempt from the market requirements of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (e.g., coverage of individuals with preexisting conditions).
The rule limits the length of the initial contract period for such a plan to no more than three months and, taking into account any renewals or extensions, the maximum coverage period to no more than four months. The rule also includes within the maximum renewal period limitation a new plan sold by the same issuer, or any issuer that is a member of the same controlled group, to the same policyholder within a 12-month period.
Regulations in effect prior to the rule this bill nullifies permitted short-term, limited-duration health insurance plans with an initial contract period of fewer than 12 months and a maximum coverage period of up to 36 months, including renewals and extensions.
