2024 Membership

2025 Proposed Charges

SENIOR ISSUES (B) TASK FORCE

The mission of the Senior Issues (B) Task Force is to 1) consider policy issues; 2) develop appropriate regulatory standards; and 3) revise, as necessary, the NAIC models, consumer guides, and training material on Medicare supplement insurance, long-term care insurance (LTCI), senior counseling programs, and other insurance issues that affect older Americans.

Ongoing Support of NAIC Programs, Products, or Services

The Senior Issues (B) Task Force will:

1. Develop appropriate regulatory standards and revisions, as necessary, to the NAIC models, consumer guides, and training material on Medicare supplement insurance, senior counseling programs, and other insurance issues that affect older Americans. Work with federal agencies to advance appropriate regulatory standards for Medicare supplement and other forms of health insurance applicable to older Americans. Review the Medicare Supplement Insurance Minimum Standards Model Act (#650) and the Model Regulation to Implement the NAIC Medicare Supplement Insurance Minimum Standards Model Act (#651) to determine if amendments are required based on changes to federal law. Work with the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to revise the annual joint publication, Choosing a Medigap Policy: A Guide to Health Insurance for People with Medicare.

2. Monitor the Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D marketplace. Assist states, as necessary, with regulatory issues. Maintain dialogue and coordinate with the CMS on regulatory issues, including solvency oversight of waived plans and agent misconduct. Assist states and serve as a clearinghouse for information on Medicare Advantage plan activity.

3. Provide the perspective of state insurance regulators to the U.S. Congress, as appropriate, and the CMS on insurance issues, including those concerning the effect and result of federal activity on the senior citizen health insurance marketplace and regulatory scheme. Review and monitor state and federal relations with respect to senior health care initiatives and other impacts on the states.

4. Monitor developments concerning State Health Insurance Assistance Programs (SHIPs), including information on legislation affecting the funding of SHIPs. Assist the states with issues relating to SHIPs and support a strong partnership between SHIPs and the CMS. Provide the perspective of state insurance regulators to federal officials, as appropriate, on issues concerning SHIPs.

5. Monitor, maintain, and review, in accordance with changes to Model #651, a record of state approvals of all Medicare supplement insurance new or innovative benefits for use by state insurance regulators and others. Review state-approved new or innovative benefits and consider whether to recommend that they be made part of standard benefit plan designs in Model #651.

6. Develop appropriate regulatory standards and revisions, as necessary, to the NAIC models, consumer guides, and training material on LTCI, including the study and evaluation of evolving LTCI product design, rating, suitability, and other related factors. Monitor ongoing research and maintenance of guidance regarding reduced benefit options (RBOs) and make necessary modifications to the Long-Term Care Insurance Model Act (#640) and the Long-Term Care Insurance Model Regulation (#641). Work with federal agencies, as appropriate.

7. Examine examples of health-related financial exploitation of seniors and work with other NAIC committees, task forces, and working groups on possible solutions.
8. Examine the effects of structural racism and the COVID-19 pandemic on access, affordability, and outcomes for older insurance consumers.

2024 Adopted Charges

SENIOR ISSUES (B) TASK FORCE

The mission of the Senior Issues (B) Task Force is to: 1) consider policy issues; 2) develop appropriate regulatory standards; and 3) revise, as necessary, the NAIC models, consumer guides, and training material on Medicare supplement insurance, long-term care insurance (LTCI), senior counseling programs, and other insurance issues that affect older Americans.

Ongoing Support of NAIC Programs, Products or Services

1.   The Senior Issues (B) Task Force will:

A. Develop appropriate regulatory standards and revisions, as necessary, to the NAIC models, consumer guides, and training material on Medicare supplement insurance, senior counseling programs, and other insurance issues that affect older Americans. Work with federal agencies to advance appropriate regulatory standards for Medicare supplement and other forms of health insurance applicable to older Americans. Review the Medicare Supplement Insurance Minimum Standards Model Act (#650) and the Model Regulation to Implement the NAIC Medicare Supplement Insurance Minimum Standards Model Act (#651) to determine if amendments are required based on changes to federal law. Work with the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to revise the annual joint publication, Choosing a Medigap Policy: A Guide to Health Insurance for People with Medicare.

B. Monitor the Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D marketplace. Assist the states, as necessary, with regulatory issues. Maintain a dialogue and coordinate with the CMS on regulatory issues, including solvency oversight of waived plans and agent misconduct. Assist the states and serve as a clearinghouse for information on Medicare Advantage plan activity.

C. Provide the perspective of state insurance regulators to the U.S. Congress (Congress), as appropriate, and the CMS on insurance issues, including those concerning the effect and result of federal activity on the senior citizen health insurance marketplace and regulatory scheme. Review and monitor state and federal relations with respect to senior health care initiatives and other impacts on the states.

D. Monitor developments concerning State Health Insurance Assistance Programs (SHIPs), including information on legislation affecting the funding of SHIPs. Assist the states with issues relating to SHIPs and support a strong partnership between SHIPs and the CMS. Provide the perspective of state insurance regulators on issues concerning SHIPs to federal officials, as appropriate.

E. Monitor, maintain, and review, in accordance with changes to Model #651, a record of state approvals of all Medicare supplement insurance new or innovative benefits for use by state insurance regulators and others. Review state-approved new or innovative benefits and consider whether to recommend that they be made part of standard benefit plan designs in Model #651.

F. Develop appropriate regulatory standards and revisions, as necessary, to the NAIC models, consumer guides, and training material on LTCI, including the study and evaluation of evolving LTCI product design, rating, suitability, and other related factors. Work with federal agencies, as appropriate.

G. Examine examples of health-related financial exploitation of seniors and work with other NAIC committees, task forces, and working groups on possible solutions.

H. Examine the effects of structural racism and the COVID-19 pandemic on access, affordability, and outcomes for older insurance consumers.