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http://www.nahu.org/federal_sbs_mar_19%20_revised_senate_and_rec_only.pdf

This is an ‘insiders’ link that is being sent out to us, the insurance professionals.  I thought that I might share this with you.

Now that the health care reform bill has passed the House of Representatives, what can we expect in the coming weeks?

First the Senate must pass the reconciliation health care bill that the House passed on Sunday. (They can’t make any changes, if so it will have to go back to the house.) Once the Senate passes the modified health care reform bill, it will be sent to President Obama’s desk. He’ll sign it immediately, of course. But then what will happen?

If the health care reform bill does become law, both the Democrats and the Republicans will face lengthy legal battles. The state attorney generals in Virginia, South Carolina, Florida, and others have pledged to file federal lawsuits after the health care reform bill is signed.

Here are the effective ?dates of major provisions of the health care overhaul legislation:

WITHIN A YEAR WHEN THE BILL IS PASSED THE SENATE AND IS LAW:

Provides a $250 rebate to Medicare prescription drug beneficiaries whose initial benefits run out.

90 DAYS AFTER ENACTMENT:

Provides immediate ?access to high-risk pools for people with no insurance because of pre-existing ?conditions.

SIX MONTHS AFTER ?ENACTMENT:

Bars insurers from denying people coverage when they get sick.

Bars insurers from ?denying coverage to children with pre-existing conditions.

Bars insurers from ?imposing lifetime caps on coverage.

Requires insurers to ?allow people to stay on their parents’ policies until they turn 26.

IN 2011:

Requires individual and small group market plans to spend 80 percent of premium dollars on medical services. Large group plans have to spend at least 85 percent.

IN 2013:

Increases the Medicare payroll tax and expands it to dividend, interest and other unearned income for singles earning more than $200,000 and joint filers making more than $250,000.

IN 2014:

Provides subsidies for families earning up to 400 percent of the poverty level, currently about $88,000 a year, to purchase health insurance.

Requires most employers to provide coverage or face penalties.

Requires most people to obtain coverage or face penalties.

IN 2018:

Imposes a 40 percent ?excise tax on high-end ?insurance policies.

IN 2019:

Expands health insurance coverage to 32 million people.

SOURCES: Speaker of the House, Congressional Budget Office, Kaiser Family Foundation.

Congress is poised to take the next step in the debate over federal health care reform. We continue to be concerned that the legislation fails to deliver on the promise of sustainable health care reform and has a number of shortcomings, including:

• Does far too little to control underlying health care costs
• Causes a dramatic increase in premiums for many people in the health insurance marketplace
• Represents a significant government expansion into the private health care sector
• Accelerates future federal budget deficitsThroughout the health care reform debate, we have sought to partner with elected officials in both parties to pursue responsible, sustainable reform that lowers costs and increases access to quality health care. While we continue to support health care reform, we cannot support reform that fails to address the cost and quality issues in our current health care delivery system and undermines the bipartisan consensus for responsible and sustainable health care reform. 

  While the White House continues to ask for Congress to finish work by March 18th, it appears more likely the House of Representatives will begin voting as early as this week. The exact process the Congress will use remains unknown, but it appears that the first step will be for the House to take up and attempt to pass the Senate bill that passed in December. If the House’s effort is successful, then the Congress would move to the reconciliation process.   

  We have updated the Health Action Network for your convenience so that you and others may continue to monitor the debate and participate in it if you are so inclined. At the website, you can access a range of resources, including:

  • Weekly email newsletter outlining the latest developments in the debate
  • Language of the actual legislation
  • Policy information from our company and a range of other organizations
  • Tools that allow you to contact your elected officials

   

  We encourage you to log onto www.HealthActionNetwork.com  and participate in this ongoing discussion, which will have a profound impact on the entire health care system and our nation’s long-term fiscal health.

The Senate voted Tuesday, March 2, to extend benefits for involuntarily terminated workers. The measure includes an additional 30-day eligibility period of the health benefits premium subsidy for COBRA and state continuation coverage. President Barack Obama signed the bill into law late in the day.

The extension passed yesterday is retroactive to March 1. As a result of this latest law, most individuals involuntarily terminated from employment between March 1 and March 31 will now be eligible to apply for the 65 percent premium reduction and continuation coverage. The new extension of the eligibility period did not change any of the other requirements and did not lengthen the maximum period for the premium subsidy or change any other eligibility requirements.

Are you looking for affordable dental insurance?  We have a great website with several plans to choose from that offer both dental and vision coverage www.texasdentalcoverage.com

Thanks and please call or email us with any questions.

Texas Health & Life (512) 246 9955 or (800) 371 2015

Stay Well!