MA Division of Insurance to Hold Small Business
Health Insurance Listening Sessions

The Division of Insurance will be hosting virtual listening sessions over the next several weeks to hear public comments from interested parties about out-of-network costs and stabilizing insurance markets to drive down premium costs.  For the two remaining sessions relating to out-of-network costs, the Division seeks feedback from the public on the following topics:

• Monday, October 5, 2026 at 10 am  Join this Discussion  Meeting ID: 247 577 353 823 456 Passcode: Gj6B923f
• Topic: Consumer Protections & Network Impacts of an Out-of-Network Default Rate
• This session will focus on additional consumer protections and the potential impact of an out-of-network default rate on provider networks. We welcome feedback on approaches to protecting consumers from unexpected out-of-network costs, including considerations related to balance billing, cost-sharing, and notice and consent requirements, as well as the potential implications for access to care and health care utilization.  The discussion will additionally consider the effects of different default rate approaches on provider networks and the broader health care market. 
  
  We encourage stakeholders to share perspectives on potential impacts across a broad range of provider types, services, and geographic areas, as well as regulatory approaches for monitoring and evaluating network access to services for members/patients and other market impacts over time.

In addition to providing oral comments during these listening sessions, interested parties may submit written comments on these topics through October 8, 2026.  Written comments should be emailed to Cara Libman at [email protected].