What constitutes a significant change in a health insurance policy?

A significant change in a health insurance policy typically involves alterations that affect the terms of coverage or the costs for the insured individual. An increase in premium or a change in benefits directly impacts the financial obligations of the policyholder as well as the scope of coverage they receive. This means that the insured may have to pay more out-of-pocket or may face limitations on their health care options, which could significantly alter their healthcare experience.

Changes in premiums can reflect rising costs for the insurance provider or new risk assessments regarding the policyholder's health. On the other hand, changes in benefits may reduce the extent of coverage that the insured had previously, potentially leaving them exposed to greater healthcare expenses in certain areas.

In contrast, the other options listed relate to more peripheral aspects of a policy, such as the availability of new drugs, which does not inherently change the policy terms itself. A decrease in covered services might be significant but would need to be a formalized change in policy language to qualify as a significant change. Lastly, a change in the insurer's contact information is administrative and does not affect the coverage or costs associated with the policy. Thus, an increase in premiums or a change in benefits constitutes the most significant type of change that could impact a policyholder.