Rescission, which is the practice of cancelling health insurance policies for mistakes on the health insurance applications, even minor mistakes, is targeted in the new regulations. According to the government, rescission is estimated to add $300 million in profits to the health insurance industry.



The new regulations require questions on a health insurance application to be clear, specific and understandable. The applications are not allowed to use double-negatives or some types of compound questions. Insurance companies will be required to take into account the level of knowledge an average individual with no medical training may have when formulating the questionnaires. Questions on the application must be relevant to the underwriting process. In addition, applicants must be allowed to check that they are unsure or cannot remember to questions on the application. Consumers must also have the right to respond during rescission investigations.