Aetna and Humana joined UnitedHealth in intending to keep certain initiatives of the federal health care reform even if the Supreme Court strikes the law.
Humana, based in Louisville, Ky., Hartford, Conn.-based Aetna and UnitedHealth Group announced this week that they will keep some changes they implemented in expectation of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, the federal health reform overhaul legislation awaiting a Supreme Court ruling on its constitutionality this month.
UnitedHealth Group opened the door to keeping provisions regardless of the ruling with a statement June 11.
All three insurance companies said they will continue to cover preventive care such as immunizations and screenings without requiring patients to pay a set fee, called a co-payment. They also said they would cover dependents up to age 26 through their parents’ insurance plans and offer a simple process for patients who want to appeal their denied health insurance claims.
UnitedHealth, based in Minnetonka, Minn., and Humana said they also will continue rescission standards and restrictions on lifetime policy limits.
“The protections we are voluntarily extending are good for people’s health, promote broader access to quality care and contribute to helping control rising health care costs,” said Stephen J. Hemsley, president and CEO of UnitedHealth Group, in a statement. “These provisions make sense for the people we serve, and it is important to ensure they know these provisions will continue.”
