Health Policy Consensus Group Calls for Short-Term Health Plan Reform

MIDLAND, Michigan, April 25 -- The Mackinac Center for Public Policy issued the following news release:

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services should allow more flexibility for short-term, limited-duration health insurance plans, according to 39 health policy experts from across the country. A letter signed by leading organizations, including the Mackinac Center for Public Policy, urges the agency to amend a proposed rule change.

Organized and submitted on behalf of the Health Policy Consensus Group by Galen Institute president, Grace-Marie Turner, the letter argues that the original rule was passed with the intent to limit and manipulate consumer choice by the Obama administration in 2016. The Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and the IRS placed unnecessary restrictions on the sale of short-term health insurance policies, such as a 90 day limitation with no ability to renew, which violates a statute that reserves such regulations to the states.

"By reducing the restrictions placed on short-term policies, consumers would not only have more affordable options, but broader access to healthcare providers as well," said Lindsay Boyd Killen, vice president for strategic outreach and communications at the Mackinac Center. "We are proud to join with many of our colleagues across the country in championing these necessary reforms."

Allowing more versatility for short-term policies will give individuals more options when they need them. People rely on short-term health care plans during times of unexpected upheaval, and providing more flexible coverage could save lives.

"We hope this will convince CMS to amend its proposed rule to allow, among other things, renewability of short-term policies," said Grace-Marie Turner in her article regarding the letter's intentions in Forbes.

Signatories to CMS Comment letter submitted April 23, 2018 by the Galen Institute on behalf of the Health Policy Consensus Group:

Rick Santorum, Former U.S. Senator (R-PA)

Saulius Anuzis, 60 Plus Association

Doug Badger, Galen Institute and The Heritage Foundation

Naomi Lopez Bauman, Goldwater Institute

Lanhee Chen, Hoover Institution and Stanford University

Dean Clancy, Adams Auld LLC

Ryan Ellis, Family Business Coalition

Marie Fishpaw, The Heritage Foundation

Linda Gorman, Independence Institute

Beverly Gossage, HSA Benefits Consulting and Independent Women's Forum

Ed Haislmaier, The Heritage Foundation

Rea Hederman, Jr., The Buckeye Institute

Heather R. Higgins, Independent Women's Voice

Dan Holler, Heritage Action

Phil Kerpen, American Commitment

Lindsay Boyd Killen, Mackinac Center for Public Policy

Yuval Levin, Ethics and Public Policy Center

Carrie Lukas, Independent Women's Forum

Nadine Maenza, Patriot Voices

James L. Martin, 60 Plus Association

Jenny Beth Martin, Tea Party Patriots Citizens Fund

Thomas P. Miller, American Enterprise Institute

Robert E. Moffit, The Heritage Foundation

Derek Monson, Sutherland Institute

Grover Norquist, Americans for Tax Reform

Sal Nuzzo, The James Madison Institute

Dan Perrin, HSA Coalition

Sally Pipes, Pacific Research Institute

Ramesh Ponnuru, American Enterprise Institute

Chris Pope, Manhattan Institute

Kevin Roberts, Texas Public Policy Foundation

Charlies Sauer, Market Institute

Thomas Schatz, Citizens Against Government Waste

Jameson Taylor, Mississippi Center for Public Policy

Mike Thompson, Thomas Jefferson Institute

Grace-Marie Turner, Galen Institute

Dan Weber, Association of Mature American Citizens

Steven White, M.D., Pulmonologist, Daytona Beach, FL

David Wilson, Asset Health