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Committee approves bill to allow insureds to 'shop' covered services and apply lower price to deductible
Summary
House Bill 18-53 would let insured patients shop for a lower price on covered services and have that lower cost count toward their deductible; sponsors said the intent is to lower overall health‑care costs, while members asked for clearer in‑network/out‑of‑network credit language.
The House Insurance Committee adopted and advanced House Bill 18-53, a bill intended to let insured patients who find a lower price for a covered service have that lower price count toward their deductible and coinsurance.
Representative Schreiber offered a technical amendment and a PCS; committee members adopted the PCS as a working draft before the sponsor explained the bill as amended. “House bill 18 53 simply allows for insured patients to shop covered services, and if they find a lesser cost than the contracted rate ...” Schreiber said.
Representative Tedford asked whether the bill treats lower prices found with out‑of‑network providers the same as in‑network prices for deductible and coinsurance credit. Schreiber said the intent is that shoppers would get credit toward the out‑of‑network deductible if the provider is out‑of‑network, and that the language could be clarified so credit is applied appropriately depending on network status. “I am suggesting that if you shop a price that is less than it will go towards your out‑of‑network deductible,” the sponsor said and agreed to work with members on precise wording.
Members also confirmed the bill applies only to covered services; the sponsor said any remaining comparable‑services language would be removed. The committee passed the bill by recorded vote and recommended it to the Oversight Committee.
If enacted, the bill would require insurers to grant deductible/coinsurance credit when an insured pays a lower amount for a covered service, with network‑status and credit‑accounting details to be clarified in subsequent amendments.
