Benjamin Franklin, Blaise Pascal, and Mark Twain are all credited with having said, “I would have written a shorter letter, if I’d had the time.” Unfortunately, efforts to simplify complex matters often constitute the greatest challenge. This fact of life is certainly proven by the Affordable Care Act and its requirement that health plans provide consumers with a concise document detailing, in plain language, information about plan benefits and coverage. This summary of benefits and coverage document ( or “SBC”) is meant to help consumers better understand the coverage available to them, and allow them to easily compare options by summarizing key features such as the covered benefits, cost-sharing provisions, coverage limitations and exceptions.

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