National Health Care Reform; An Employer Update
By Chrystine M. Heier, CEBS, LIA
Co-Founder and Principal, Sullivan Benefits | |
It's been well over a month since passage of our landmark National Health Care Reform Legislation and various government agencies have slowly begun to issue guidance and clarification. This article focuses on the first provisions that were enacted and those taking effect in 2011. For information on the key provisions taking effect through 2018, see our April 2010 Article, "National Health Care Reform - Signed, Sealed, Delivered... It's Ours".
As you are aware,the legislationcontains many provisions which affect employer group health plans. Certain provisions of the new law are not applicable to "Grandfathered Plans", those plans that were in effect on March 23, 2010, the date health care legislation was passed. Such plans will retain their status even if family members or new employees are allowed to enroll. At this time, it is unclear as to what changes could move a plan out of "grandfathered" status, so it is best to move cautiously when considering plan design changes. Provisions not applicable to grandfathered plans are noted as such below.
Key Provisions Effective in 2010
Reinsurance Program for Early Retirees (ages 55 - 64): Effective on June 1, 2010, this program kicked in before its deadline and provides $5 billion in funding to employers so that they can more easily give benefits to retired workers who are not eligible for Medicare health benefits. Proceeds must be used to lower health costs for enrollees (e.g. premium contributions, co-payments, deductibles, etc.).
Small Employer Health Insurance Tax Credit: Effective 2010,this new credit helps small businesses, with no more than 25 full-time equivalent employees, afford the cost of covering their employees. This credit is specifically targeted towards employers with low and moderate income workers for which the employer pays at least half the cost of single coverage. The maximum credit is 35% of premiums paid in 2010, going to smaller employers with fewer than 10 employees and average annual wages of $25,000 or less. READ MORE. |
2010 - 2011 Flu Season News
By Nan Maley, R.N.
Corporate Wellness Director, Sullivan Benefits | |
2010 FLU SEASON VACCINE TO INCLUDE H1N1
In February, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee recommended that protection against the 2009 H1N1 virus, which was first identified in April of 2009, be included in the 2010-2011 seasonal influenza vaccine starting this fall. The committee's recommendations typically guide vaccine manufacturers in preparing each season's flu vaccines. The World Health Organization has made the same recommendation.
This means, barring some unforeseen circumstance, this fall, most Americans will be able to return to the traditional routine of having one flu vaccine to protect them against the major circulating flu viruses. As is always the case with seasonal vaccine, younger children who have never had a seasonal vaccine will still need two doses. READ MORE. |
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