Oklahoma Insurance Commissioner John D. Doak plans to work with the Legislature to expand state law regarding short-term limited duration health insurance coverage.
In August, the Trump administration finalized rules on short-term policies expanding the maximum duration from three months to 12 months and allowing insurers to renew or extend short-term coverage for up to 36 months. Currently, Oklahoma law only allows the plans to be sold on a non-renewable basis with a duration of six months or less.
“These final rules are intended to help those left behind by Obamacare,” said Doak. “Short-term polices are not junk, as liberals suggest, but affordable options for millions left behind in the Obamacare disaster. I’m confident we can work with state lawmakers to revamp the current law and make it much less restrictive.”
Earlier, Doak issued a bulletin to licensed insurers clarifying state law on short-term limited duration plans. The bulletin provided guidance to insurers interested in issuing new policies after the Departments of Labor, Treasury and Health and Human Services amended the definition of individual health insurance coverage. The bulletin emphasized compliance to both the new federal rules and Oklahoma law related to limited duration insurance policies.