UnitedHealthcare, the nation's largest health care insurer, commits to keeping some key mandates regardless of Supreme Court's impending ruling on health reform.
NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- The nation's largest health insurer promises to continue offering some key mandates of health care reform -- such as coverage of adult dependents up to age 26 -- regardless of how the Supreme Court rules on the health care law.
The Supreme Court, which is currently debating health care reform, is expected to announce its ruling later this month. Industry experts say the Court could uphold the law, overturn the law completely or overturn just some provisions of the law.
Ahead of the Court's decision, UnitedHealth Group (UNH, Fortune 500) said it will uphold several mandated provisions that have already gone into effect since health reform passed in 2010.
Among them, the insurer said it won't charge co-pays for preventive services, won't impose lifetime dollar limits on members' policies and will allow members to add their adult children up to age 26 to their plans.
The company -- which covers 38 million people -- also said it won't rescind insurance coverage of individuals who become ill, except in cases of fraud.
"The protections promote broader access to quality care and contribute to helping control rising health care costs," Stephen Hemsley, CEO of UnitedHealth Group, said in a statement.
"These provisions make sense for the people we serve and it is important to ensure they know these provisions will continue," he said.
UnitedHealthcare's decision, though, does not apply to large employers that self-insure and use the company only to manage their health plans. Most Americans are insured in such plans. In those cases, it's up to the employer whether to abide by the mandates.
Also, UnitedHealthcare did not commit yet to standing by another key mandate which has gone into effect -- offering coverage for children up to age 19 with pre-existing conditions.
Original post: