HealthCare Reform

Details

Category: FAQs

Published on Tuesday, 23 March 2010 16:48

Written by Ann Rosenhoover

Hits: 837

Timeline of what to expect from the recent passing of the healthcare reform bill:

2010

● Adults who can’t get coverage because of a pre-existing medical condition can join a high-risk insurance pool.

● Insurance companies will have to issue policies for children with pre-existing conditions. They will not be allowed to revoke existing policies if people get sick. There will be a ban on lifetime limits coverage and new coverage and annual limits will be restricted. Preventive services will be fully covered, with no co-pays or deductibles. Coverage will be available for dependent children until they turn 26.

● People in the Medicare prescription drug program will receive a $250 rebate as the first step in closing the coverage gap (donut hole) that requires them to pay full price after they have spent $2,700 on prescription drugs.

● Certain small businesses will start getting tax credits up to 35% of the cost of insuring their employees, the percentage will then rise to 50% in 2014.

● Plans must have "an effective appeals process" for decisions and claims. States will get grants to set up programs that help consumers with complaints or questions about health insurance. The federal government will set up a website to help people in different states figure out their insurance options.

● A 10% percent tax increase will take effect on indoor tanning services.

● Medicare changes will include free annual wellness visits; little to no cost-sharing for preventive care, like immunizations and cancer screenings; bonuses to primary care doctors and general surgeons; a new Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation to test ways to provide better, more efficient care; and, the start of a phase-out of overpayments to private Medicare Advantage insurers. People in the prescription "doughnut hole" will receive discounts on prescriptions.

● There will be new money for primary care services and new incentives to encourage doctors to join together in "accountable care organizations." The government will track re-admission rates at hospitals and impose penalty fees on hospitals with the highest rates.

● This is when higher taxes will begin for households with income above $250,000 and individuals above $200,000. The Medicare payroll tax on earnings above those amounts will rise from 1.45 percent to 2.35 percent. Unearned income above those amounts, such as dividends, will now be subject to a 3.8 percent tax.

● In addition, maximum contributions to pre-tax Flexible Savings Account contributions will be limited to $2,500 a year (down from the current $3,050 for individuals).

● There will be a new 2.9 percent excise tax on medical devices.

● Medicare will sponsor a national pilot program on "payment bundling" -- paying hospitals, doctors and other providers based on patient outcome, not services provided.

● More consumer protections begin. Insurance companies will not be able to deny policies to anyone based on their health status or to refuse coverage of a treatment based on pre-existing health conditions. Their ability to charge higher rates to people based on age, geography, family size or tobacco use will be limited. Annual limits on coverage will be abolished.
● Each state will open a health insurance exchange, or marketplace, for individuals and small businesses without coverage. People will be able to comparison shop for standardized health packages. There will be a multistate private plan available nationwide, supervised by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management. Tax credits will be available to make insurance and care affordable for people who make too much to qualify for Medicaid, but have incomes below 400 percent of poverty.
● Most people will be required to buy insurance coverage or pay penalties that start at $95 in 2014 and rise to $695 or 2.5 percent of income in 2016. Employers with 50 or more workers who do not offer coverage will have to pay annual fees.
● Medicaid eligibility will increase to 133 percent of the poverty level ($14,404 for individuals) for everyone under 65 (when they qualify for Medicare).

● A new Independent Payment Advisory Board will be formed to come up with ways to lower Medicare costs and promote better care. The recommendations will go to Congress and private insurers.

● This is when the most controversial new tax begins, a 40 percent excise tax on insurance companies and plan administrators for any family plan that costs more than $27,500. The tax applies to the cost above that threshold. There are higher thresholds for retirees over 55 and plans that cover workers in high-risk jobs.

● The new system will have reduced the number of uninsured people by 32 million, according to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office. That will leave an estimated 23 million uninsured, one-third of them illegal immigrants. Coverage of legal residents too young for Medicare (under age 65) will be 94 percent, up from 83 percent now.

*Please note*

            Anytime something as extreme as this comes into the news and public’s attention, there are bound to be rumors and false statements in order to anger or concern Americans. Please read up on the facts that will be posted on numerous websites, newspapers, and television stations in the many months to come following the reform. There are going to be those who are biased, it would be in your best interest to stray away from those types of Medias. Knowledge is power, and the more you know about the truth behind the reform bill, the more you will be able to make your own opinions and decisions. Also, please remember that in this great country everyone is entitled to an opinion, but thankfully that is just what they are; opinions.

Contact Us

Details

Category: FAQs

Published on Friday, 10 August 2007 13:24

Written by Liz Barr

Hits: 4006

Want to get in touch?

Our Representatives

Details

Category: FAQs

Published on Tuesday, 28 July 2009 12:40

Written by Liz Barr

Hits: 2128

State Senator:
Republican John Eichelberger
309 Allegheny Street
Hollidaysburg, PA  16648
814.317.1753
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

State Representatives:
Republican Richard A. Geist (79th)
Gables Office Building
1331 12th Avenue, Suite 104
Altoona, PA  16601
814.946.7218
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Republican Jerry Stern (80th)
324 Allegheny Street
Hollidaysburg, PA  16648
814.695.2398
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Republican Mike Fleck(81st)
301 Penn Street
Huntingdon, PA  16652
814.644-2996
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

US Senators:
Democrat Robert P. Casey
Central PA Office
817 E. Bishop Street, Suite C
Bellefonte, PA  16823
814.357.0314
http://casey.senate.gov/contact

Republican Pat Toomey
US Federal Bldg.
228 Walnut St., Suite 1104
Harrisburg, PA 17104
717.782.3951
http://toomey.state.gov/contact

Congressman:
Republican Bill Shuster
Hollidaysburg Office
310 Penn Street, Suite 200
Hollidaysburg, PA  16648
814.696.6318
http://house.gov/shuster

Web Site Overview

Details

Category: FAQs

Published on Friday, 10 August 2007 12:48

Written by Liz Barr

Hits: 1115

Read more: Web Site Overview