Jen Kiggans Opposed Several Bills That Would Expand Affordable Health Care While In The Virginia State Senate

2020: Kiggans Voted Against Bills Strengthening Health Care Protections For Virginians

Kiggans Voted Against Requiring Catastrophic And Association Health Plans To Cover Preventive Care As An Essential Health Benefit. In March 2020, Kiggans voted against S.B. 95, which ‘Requires a health carrier offering or providing a health benefit plan, including (i) catastrophic health insurance policies and policies that pay on a cost-incurred basis; (ii) association health plans; and (iii) plans provided by a multiple-employer welfare arrangement, to provide, as an essential health benefit, coverage that includes preventive care. The bill defines essential health benefits as those general categories and those items and services within such categories that are covered in accordance with regulations issued pursuant to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act in effect as of January 1, 2019.’ The bill passed, 20-20. [Virginia State Assembly, SB 95, 3/2/20]

Kiggans Voted Against Limiting The Use Of Short-Term Junk Insurance Plans For Long-Term Health Care Coverage. In March 2020, Kiggans voted against S.B. 404, which ‘Prohibits carriers from issuing in the Commonwealth, on or after July 1, 2021, any short-term limited-duration medical plan with a duration that exceeds three months or that can be renewed or extended beyond six months, or if the plan's issuance would result in a covered person being covered by a short-term limited-duration medical plan for more than six months in any 12-month period. The bill prohibits a carrier from issuing a short-term limited-duration medical plan during an annual open enrollment period.’ The bill passed, 21-19. [Virginia State Assembly, SB 404, 3/7/20]

2020: Kiggans Voted Against Creating The Virginia Health Benefit Exchange Which Enrolled Uninsured And Underinsured Residents, And Gave The State More Control Over The Virginia Health Benefit Exchange

Kiggans Voted Against Creating Virginia Health Benefit Exchange. In February of 2020, Kiggans voted against S.B. 732, which ‘creates the Virginia Health Benefit Exchange, which will be established and operated by a new division within the State Corporation Commission (SCC). The Exchange shall facilitate the purchase and sale of qualified health plans and qualified dental plans to qualified individuals and qualified employers. The Exchange shall make qualified plans available to qualified individuals and qualified employers by July 1, 2023, unless the SCC postpones this date. The measure authorizes the SCC to review and approve accident and sickness insurance premium rates applicable to health benefit plans in the individual and small group markets and health benefit plans providing health insurance coverage in the individual market through certain non-employer group plans. The Exchange will be funded by an assessment on health insurers, which is limited to three percent of total monthly premiums, except the SCC may, after a public hearing, adjust the rate as necessary to ensure the Exchange is fully funded. A health plan will not be required to cover any state-mandated health benefit if federal law does not require it to be covered as part of the essential benefits package. The essential health benefits are items and services included in the benchmark health insurance plan, which is the largest plan in the largest product in the Commonwealth's small group market as supplemented in order to provide coverage for the items and services within the statutory essential health benefits categories.’ The bill passed state Senate 23-17 and became law April 9th, 2020. [Virginia General Assembly, SB 732, 2/26/20]

• Virginia Health Benefit Exchange Focused On Enrolling Uninsured And Underinsured Residents. ‘Both the House and Senate bills would establish a state-run health insurance marketplace through a new division within the Virginia State Corporation Commission. The state exchange, like the federal version, would focus mostly on enrolling uninsured or underinsured residents who aren’t covered by an employer-provided health plan.’ [Virginia Mercury, 2/17/20]
• Virginia Health Benefit Exchange Allowed State To Collect Fees Usually Handed Off To Federal Government. ‘Proponents of a state exchange say it would allow Virginia to collect fees that currently go to the federal government. Under the current structure, insurance companies in Virginia pay the federal government a 3% fee in exchange for running the health care marketplace. Those fees are passed on to Virginia consumers with few benefits for the state, said Del. Mark Sickles, D-Fairfax, who sponsored the bill in the House.’ [Virginia Mercury, 2/17/20]
• Virginia Health Benefit Exchange Offered More Control Over Health Care Marketplace And Boosted Enrollment. ‘Proponents of the legislation hope a state exchange will offer more control over the marketplace and better tools to boost enrollment. States with independent markets can extend the annual enrollment period, fund outreach efforts and collect more information on consumers. Both the House and Senate bills would establish an opt-in box on state tax forms, allowing residents to indicate whether they were uninsured at the time of filing and share their tax information to determine eligibility for medical assistance.’ [Virginia Mercury, 2/17/20]