The Idaho Department of Insurance wants insurers to let some charities pay costs and premiums for people who lack the money to pay premiums, co-payments and other out-of-pocket expenses, reports Idaho Statesman.
The department issued formal guidance on third-party insurance payments made by an entity other than the insured person, after the department began receiving complaints from residents whose charitable aid had been rejected by insurers.
The guidance requires insurers to accept payments for member expenses from charitable entities, but not from charities that stand to gain financially from the transaction. The rule defined a financially interested party as an entity that receives the majority of its funding from those who could benefit from driving business to the insurer.
The department published its proposed guidance May 11 and is seeking public input through May 27.
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