Since the passage of The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (the PPACA) in March of 2010, employers have been subject to an avalanche of information from many different sources, each with its own reason or agenda for commenting on health reform provisions. Unfortunately, much of what has been written has been complex, confusing and sometimes simply wrong. Heated political discussion has further complicated employers’ attempt to understand the changes. As is often the case with controversial legislation, much that is said is exaggerated by one side or the other in an attempt to sway public opinion. As employers better understand the legislation, they often find that the truth is neither as dire as some would want them to believe, nor as perfect of a solution as yet others portray it. The result is that many employers feel overwhelmed and confused. This article will attempt to look at various provisions of the PPACA from a more strategic perspective.
This issue of Vista's focuses on two key areas of Healthcare Reform: Insurance Exchanges and Medical Loss Ratios. You will also note a summary of what may evolve in colorado related to possible healthcare reform and finally, some observations on both state and national reform.
Further expansion and clarification of sections of the Healthcare Reform and the Q & A from previous issues of Vista’s includes the following updates related to:
1. Reinsurance Program for Early Retirees 2. Market Reform/Plan Design Requirements
1. Reinsurance Program for Early Retirees
2. Market Reform/Plan Design Requirements
Considerable discussion, some view it as debate, continues on surrounding the rules, regulations and procedures under the PPACA and HCEARA(Healthcare reform bills). At Van Gilder, we continue to gather information with the hope of imparting those interpretations as they evolve. In this issue, as well as next month’s issue, we will actually update some of the sections under the bills that have been further refined and/or defined.
Since the PPACA and the HCEARA passed, our goal has been to bring you information as interpreted by legal counsel, Steptoe & Johnson LLP. This issue focuses on two important aspects of the legislation: 1) Impact to Self-Insured Plans 2) Impact to "Mini-Med," or Limited, Benefit Plans.
June Healthcare Reform Update
Please take time to review the responses to the most frequently asked questions (FAQs) concerning new taxes and the treatment of Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs), Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) and Health Reimbursement Accounts (HRAs) under Health Care Reform.
The lead Counsel for the Council of Insurance Agents and Brokers, Steptoe and Johnson, have provided a summary of the most Frequently asked questions by organizations from all over the country.
It has been more than a month since Congress passed health care reform, and we thought it a good idea to give you a brief overview of where we are in the implementation process and what we expect to happen in the coming weeks.
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act became law on March 23, 2010. While there is debate occurring in the Senate, there is a likelihood that the Reconciliation bill will move forward and be passed very soon which then combines two bills to become the final health care overhaul package.
The Department of Labor (DOL) has released a model notice as required by The Children’s Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2009 (CHIPRA). CHIPRA, passed in February 2009, extended the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) which makes federal funding available to states to help insure low-income children.
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