New rule repeals transplant waiting periods for health insurance

A new rule took effect July 3 to eliminate waiting periods for transplants. Before the change, insurance companies could impose a waiting period for transplants of no longer than 90 days. 

OIC undertook emergency rulemaking to bring state insurance rules into alignment with the federal Affordable Care Act. Under the ACA, transplants are one of the essential health benefits, which are required benefits under the Affordable Care Act.

The new rules don’t require health insurance plans to modify their policies mid-year, but they do require plans to identify and notify enrollees who may be affected by this rule change. Starting in 2015, health plans will remove transplant waiting periods from policy language.

This rule change was widely supported by insurers, medical providers and consumer advocates. You can find the concise explanatory statement with the comments and the final rules on our website.