Nebraska Department of Insurance

PRESS RELEASES AND NOTICES

NOTICE

Chapter 44 of the Insurance Department Rules has now been filed with the Secretary of State for adoption.

Chapter 44 entitled, "Scope of Coverage to be Offered by the Nebraska Comprehensive Health Insurance Pool" was amended to eliminate the $250 deductible for the standard major medical plan and the $250/500 deductible for the Preferred Provider Organization Plan. With the elimination of these deductibles, the overall premium cost of the policy should be lower. Second, the Nebraska Comprehensive Pool will now allow the administrator of the plan to create a Health Savings Account for policyholders. Third, the drug benefits within the plan will be eliminated and, in its place, a three-tiered drug benefit will be implemented to more closely reflect the individual health insurance market and to encourage cost containment via use of generic prescription drugs. Finally, Occupational Therapy will be added as an additional benefit under the Nebraska Comprehensive Health Insurance Pool's policy benefits. The rule was filed with the Secretary of State on May 2, 2005 with implementation date to be May 7, 2005.

Copies of Chapter 44 may be obtained by forwarding a check in the amount of $6.50 for each copy requested made payable to the Nebraska Department of Insurance, 941 O Street, Suite 400, Lincoln, Nebraska 68508, and through the Department's web site at www.doi.ne.gov. Any questions concerning Chapter 44 should be directed to Martin Swanson.