CMS Simplifies Consumer Applications For Health Insurance Marketplace

On April 30, 2013, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced that the consumer application for individual health coverage has been simplified and significantly shortened to three pages, down from the 21 pages in the draft application. The application for families has been reduced by two-thirds. The new forms are shorter than industry standards for health insurance applications today. Applications will be accepted starting October 1, 2013, by phone, paper, or online. Consumers applying for health insurance through a state Health Insurance Marketplace, or Health Insurance Exchange will receive information about the full range of options—Medicaid . . .