Popular provision of health law at risk

Associated Press

WASHINGTON

One of the most popular provisions of President Barack Obama’s health-care overhaul — consumer-friendly summaries of what your insurance plan covers — suddenly seems to be at risk.

Consumer groups say it’s not Republican opposition they’re worried about, but a White House that doesn’t want to be seen, in an election year, as churning out costly new regulations.

At issue is the health-care law’s requirement that insurance plans provide simple, standard summaries of coverage and costs to help consumers pick benefits that are right for them — a sort of “CliffsNotes” version of the cryptic jargon.

The rule is due to take effect in time for open-enrollment season this fall and is undergoing final review by the White House. It would apply to all private and employer health plans, covering an estimated 180 million Americans. But consumer advocates say they fear the administration may heed industry complaints that the regulation, as proposed last summer, is too costly, burdensome and intrusive.

“There is concern that the consumer protections we were hoping to see may not be in the final rule,” said Dr. LaShawn McIver, policy director for the American Diabetes Association.