Nebraska State Flexibility to Stabilize the Market Grant Award

Grant Application Summary

Nebraska Grantee: The Nebraska Department of Insurance

Award Date: August 20, 2018

Total Award: $278,821.74

Baseline Award: $274,344.83

Workload Award: $4,476. 91

Sections 2702 and 2703 - The Nebraska Department of Insurance, in conjunction with Nebraska’s Department of Health and Human Services Division of Rural Health, will identify areas that lack access to health care coverage and investigate ways to improve access to coverage. In addition to ensuring health insurance issuers are offering approved products for purchase and continue to offer coverage at the option of an individual or plan sponsor (unless an exception applies), Nebraska will develop guidance, such as internal memorandums and checklists, to asses methods to strengthen the type of coverage offered by issuers in the individual, small, and large group markets. The Nebraska Department of Insurance will collaborate with actuarial consultants to study cost drivers that affect premiums. Nebraska will also review U.S. census data, enrollment data from health insurance issuers, and compliant data to determine if areas within the State have less coverage than others.

Section 2707 - The Nebraska Department of Insurance will develop guidance, such as internal memorandums and checklists, to assist the department in reviewing filings in order to ensure health insurance plans do not include discriminatory benefit designs. Nebraska will provide outreach support in enforcing non-discrimination provisions through education to consumers, providers, and issuers. The Nebraska Department of Insurance will also collect compliant data from consumers and track external reviews to identify any pattern of denied claims and overturned denials for drugs and services associated with high-cost medial conditions.