U.S. House bill requires disclosure by insurers

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Health insurers would be required to disclose any limits or exclusions of benefits to plan participants under a bill passed overwhelmingly by the U.S. House of Representatives on Tuesday.

"Many consumers or employers shopping for health care coverage are led to believe that care for a broken arm, for example, is the same regardless of how the injury happened but that is not the case," said Republican Representative Michael Burgess, a physician who sponsored the legislation.

He said people who ride motorcycles, horses or snowmobiles or participate in other sports can find that an injury suffered while engaging in those activities is not covered by their health insurance policy.

"Trip and fall at home and break your arm - no problem. Get bucked off a horse while on vacation with the family and break your arm - you may be slapped with the bill," Burgess said. "This is simply unfair."

The bill, approved 422 to 3, would let insurers exclude coverage for those kinds of injuries, but would require them to inform plan participants of any coverage limitations when they sign up.

The House passed the same bill late last year, but it was never taken up by the Senate. Burgess said he hoped the Senate would consider it this time around.

Lawmakers are considering a sweeping overhaul of the U.S. healthcare system, and insurance industry coverage and billing practices are being reviewed as a part of the proposed revamp.

(Reporting by Donna Smith, editing by Vicki Allen)