The National Association of Insurance Commissioners is helping the government translate a new requirement that health insurers use at least 80 or 85% of their premium dollars to pay medical bills or otherwise improve consumers' health. In comments submitted to NAIC, members of the industry have asked for permission to count a wide range of expenses. The BlueCross BlueShield Association, for example, has told rulemakers that its efforts to improve health quality include "reducing inappropriate and sometimes potentially harmful care." Consumer advisers to the NAIC have countered that some expenses the association proposed including "are core administrative functions of insurance companies."
