In recent years, insurers have increasingly been shifting costs to patients in the form of higher deductibles and more reliance on coinsurance rather than copays. In a step to help address this growing problem, the 2023 Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters proposed rule includes a change that would require Qualified Health Plans to offer standardized benefit designs on HealthCare.gov.

Standardized plans can simplify health insurance enrollment by streamlining plan choices and making the shopping experience more patient friendly. They can also include lower cost sharing, require copayments instead of coinsurance, and designate some services eligible for coverage pre-deductible, increasing access to and affordability of care for patients.