Vt. delegation pushes Biden officials to enforce ACA contraception rules
WASHINGTON (WCAX) - Vermont’s congressional delegation is calling on top Biden administration officials to detail steps they are taking to make sure insurance carriers are providing no-cost contraceptive coverage to consumers.
It comes following a recent audit that found thousands of Vermonters were wrongly charged out of pocket by their insurance companies for contraceptive care. The Vermont Department of Financial Regulation says the nearly two-year audit found policyholders of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Vermont, MVP Health Care, and Cigna Healthcare were incorrectly covered for contraceptive services, and the insurers wrongly shifted more than $1.5 million for contraceptive care to consumers. The state says nearly 9,000 Vermonters paid out of pocket for services like vasectomies, ultrasounds, and birth control pills when they shouldn’t have under the Affordable Care Act.
“It’s more important than ever to ensure proper access and no-cost coverage for contraceptive services. We applaud the State of Vermont’s effort to make sure that insurers are complying with the Affordable Care Act and state contraceptive coverage mandates,” said the delegation in a statement. “However, Vermont doesn’t regulate all insurance types, so further federal action is required to improve nationwide insurer compliance with ACA contraceptive mandates. It’s time for the federal government to follow Vermont’s lead and prioritize enforcement and compliance with federal law.”
If you have any of those insurance providers and you paid out of pocket for contraceptive care, the Department of Financial Regulation says you should call your insurance company. After contacting providers, impacted Vermonters can expect to get their checks before the end of the year.
Click here for more information. People with questions can also contact the Department of Consumer Services Division at 802-828-3302 and dfr.insuranceinfo@vermont.gov.
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Audit finds thousands of Vermonters wrongly charged for contraceptive care
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