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Politics : GOPwinger Lies/Distortions/Omissions/Perversions of Truth -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Bill who wrote (165035)	3/26/2010 2:39:29 PM
From: Kevin Rose	1 Recommendation Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 173976

Premiums HAVE been doubling. I know - as an independent business owner I pay for my family's health care, and it has skyrocketed in the past ten years. The CBO has determined that the deficit will decrease. Some parts of the plan start almost immediately - some, like the insurance exchanges, need time to establish. Here is a summary of the benefits, over time. Impact on Employers & Employees ... 2010 1. Existing health plans are grandfathered; must comply with new standards when benefit changes introduced. Bargained plans grandfathered until next collective bargaining agreement 2. Unless grandfathered, 6 months following enactment of the law: A. Lifetime maximums eliminated B. Health plans must cover pre-existing conditions for children C. Preventive Benefits must be covered at 100% D. Same coverage for Emergency services in or out of network E. Coverage for individuals participating in a clinical trial 3. Non dependent children may be covered under a parent’s plan until age 26 (House Reconciliation) 4. Introduces a $250 rebate to Medicare Part D Rx enrollees; Donut hole eliminated by 2020. Maintains 25% cost responsibility for medications 5. Self insured plan employer reporting requirements to include enrollment, funding arrangements, assets, investments, liabilities & expenses 6. The value of health benefits included on Form W-2 7. Employers with 200 or more employees required to auto-enroll new hires in lowest cost plan option 8. High risk pool established for long term uninsured and individuals with pre-existing conditions 9. Early withdrawal penalty for HSAs for non health care uses of 20% 10. Medicare Tax increased from 1.45% to 3.9% for individuals with modified adjusted gross income incomes of $200,000 single and $250,000 joint returns. Includes investment income derived from interest earnings, dividends, royalties, rents, and net gains from sales of property unless held in a business (House Reconciliation) 2011 1. Medicare Advantage payments to insurers frozen. Reductions in payments phased in over the next 3 to 7 years. (House Reconciliation) 2. Physician ownership of hospitals where they refer patients prohibited unless grandfathered (House Reconciliation) 3. Increased Government fees on brand name pharmaceuticals (House Reconciliation) 2013 1. Taxation of Medicare Part D Subsidy payments to employers (House Reconciliation) 2. Flexible Spending Accounts annual deferral maximum of $2,500, plus elimination of pre-tax payments for Over the Counter products and services for FSAs, HRAs & HSAs (House Reconciliation) 3. Primary Care physicians reimbursed at 100% of Medicare rates for Medicaid patients (House Reconciliation) 4. 2.9% Excise tax on medical devices (House Reconciliation) 2014 1. Establishment of Health Insurance Exchanges offering plans through private insurers for individuals and small businesses up to 100 employees, including subsidies for individuals and small businesses 2. Health plans required to cover pre-existing conditions for adults 3. Tax penalties to individuals that do not purchase and maintain health insurance on a sliding scale with from $325 to $695 or 1% to 2.5 % of income whichever is greater (House Reconciliation) 4. Fines to employers with 50+ full time employees equal to $2,000 per employee not insured under the employer’s plan 5. Introduces a maximum new hire waiting period of 90 days following date of employment (House Reconciliation) 6. Government fees imposed on health insurers – VEBA’s excluded (House Reconciliation) 2018 1. Implementation of 40% Excise Tax for plans with premiums in excess of $10,200 Single and $25,500 Family indexed for inflation and open to change if health care inflation varies from projections (House Reconciliation). lehighvalleylive.com