December 2021
Reflecting and Looking Ahead
by Judith L. French, Director
I hope you are experiencing a joyous holiday season.
I want to take a moment as we close 2021 and welcome the new year, to say thank you to the public servants at the Ohio Department of Insurance. I appreciate their focused and detailed commitment overseeing the state's insurance marketplace, and for serving and protecting Ohio insurance consumers with such care. It has been a productive year at the department and their list of accomplishments is long.
From helping insurance consumers and the insurance industry navigate this pandemic, hosting a National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) national meeting, standing up surprise medical billing rules and stronger protections for annuity consumers, engaging the public about mental health insurance, enhancing our emerging products and innovation initiative, launching remote license testing for prospective insurance agents, assuming national insurance organization leadership positions, and much more.
We want to keep this momentum in our sails and make an even stronger impact in 2022.
Ohio's no surprise medical billing law becomes effective in January and a statewide educational outreach campaign is planned. Dynamic engagement activities will continue around explaining how Ohioans can access their mental health and substance use disorder insurance benefits to receive treatment.
Technology and insurance innovation is an economic driver and Ohio is a leader in this area. We will continue to show Ohio is a flexible insurance state and responsive to insurers interested in bringing new products and tools to market. Workforce development is always critical, but especially in today’s modernizing insurance environment. We will support the continued creation of insurance specific programs at Ohio educational institutions.
On the national front, I am participating in a strategic planning effort for the NAIC and know Ohio will play a significant role in several areas.
I am excited about what lies ahead and I encourage your participation in shaping Ohio's insurance future. Please contact us to share any of your thoughts.
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Federal and Ohio Surprise Billing Laws Become Effective in January
Federal and state laws that protect Ohioans from surprise billing become effective in January. Specifically, the federal No Surprises Act is effective on Jan. 1 and the Ohio law on Jan. 12. The laws protect patients from receiving and paying surprise medical bills above a patient's in-network rate from health care providers for out-of-network emergency care or, in certain circumstances, other unanticipated out-of-network care. Cost-sharing amounts, which include coinsurance, copayments, and deductibles, are limited to the patient’s in-network amounts.
The Ohio Department of Insurance, in January, is launching a surprise billing toolkit to help consumers, health care providers, health insurers, and other stakeholders understand the law and its requirements, and to easily access the department’s surprise billing services. In addition, a public education campaign will begin informing Ohioans of their surprise billing rights.
How ODI is Helping Health Care Providers and Patients Navigate Mental Health Insurance
Director French recently shared in The Ohio Family Physician magazine how the Ohio Department of Insurance is helping health care providers and patients navigate mental health insurance.
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Health Insurance Exchange Open Enrollment Deadline Jan. 15
The open enrollment deadline for 2022 health insurance coverage through the Ohio federal marketplace is Jan. 15.
The National Association of Insurance Commissioners created an "enrolling in marketplace coverage" toolkit that explains what you need to do to enroll.
In addition, the Ohio Department of Insurance also created a toolkit. It includes a listing of companies selling in Ohio and their premium information.
Anyone with questions can contact the department by calling 800-686-1526, visiting our website at insurance.ohio.gov, or by emailing us at consumer.services@insurance.ohio.gov.
ICYMI: Ohioans Urged to Winterize Property and Review Insurance for Winter
Property winterization and ensuring adequate insurance protection could help minimize the financial impact of damaging weather.
Use these tips and insights to get started!
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Consumer Education Pieces on Health Insurance Launched
A new series of consumer education pieces about health insurance is available from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. The series aims to help policyholders better understand how to get the most out of their health insurance coverage.
One Last Reminder: 2021 Annual Title Reviews Due Jan. 15
Licensed Ohio title insurance agents and agencies or their authorized representatives are required to file an annual title agent/agency review.
Authorized agents and agencies should upload annual title review forms to the Ohio Department of Insurance through OH|ID.
Annual filings for the 2021 filing period (Sept. 1, 2020 - Aug. 31, 2021) are due by Jan. 15, 2022.
Access detailed annual title filing information and instructions on this page of the department's website.
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NAIC Report Details State Insurance Regulators’ Efforts to Manage Climate-Related Risks and Promote Resiliency
The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) and state insurance regulators are addressing climate-related risks through the three main pillars of insurance regulation: financial risk analysis, insurance market availability and affordability, and consumer education and outreach.
The report summarizes past, present, and future programs and actions by the NAIC and state insurance regulators to help the insurance industry respond to increasing natural hazards including flooding, wildfires, and extreme weather.
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