Ask the Experts about Health Care Reform Legislation

Our clients have many questions about the implication of the recent Health Care Reform Legislation. 

Just a few of the questions posed by clients and answered at our recent seminar on Health Care Reform Legislation were:

1 If I already offer coverage, can we keep the same plan under reform?
2 Are there new reporting requirements, such as on the W-2?
3 How are preexisting conditions handled under healthcare reform?
4 How does the change in preexisting condition exclusions affect the coverage I offer my employees?
5 Will waiting periods still be allowed?
6 How will the new high-risk pool work and when will it be available?
7 What if my State already has pools?
8 Will insurance through the new high-risk pools be more affordable than that through existing pools?
9 Does the law affect coverage for early retirees?
10 Does the law offer incentives to create or participate in wellness programs?
11 Will there be limits on what insurance companies can charge me or my employees?
12 What does the new law do to control costs?
13 Will there be malpractice reform under this new law?
14 Are there changes to Health Spending Accounts (HSAs), Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) and Archer Medical Spending Accounts (MSAs)?
15 How will simple cafeteria plans work for small business owners?

For the answers to these and many more questions on the new legislation (including answers to questions about Health Care Exchanges and the Small Business Tax Credit) go to http://www.grahall.com/knowledge/event-transcripts/ and download information from the June 2nd seminar including an audio recording of the discussions, all presentation materials, and other information.

Or you can contact the presenters to discuss your specific questions and concerns:

Contact Robert Cirkiel at rcirkiel@uhy-us.com   or 201 337 0009
Contact  Todd C. McDonald at tmcdonald@aisling-partners.com or 508 799 9100
Contact Pate Steele at pate.steele@grahall.com or 508 269 4065 Contact Grahall’s OmniMedia Editorial Board at edie.kingston@grahall.com

Ask the Expert about Health Care Reform Legislation

There are no fewer than 20 key provisions of the health care reform legislation that take effect between now and January 1, 2011.  These provisions were thoroughly discussed during the second in a series of webinars sponsored by Grahall, LLC held June 2, 2010.   Presenters  Robert Cirkiel, Chief Actuary, UHY Advisors, Todd C. McDonald, President, Aisling Partners Insurance Brokerage and  Pate Steele, Consultant, Grahall Consulting Partners advised webinar participants that that these changes are significant and extensive. Developing a full understanding of these provisions is critical for employers to ensure the optimal approach is taken to addressing the new requirements including:

Continue reading “Grahall’s 2nd Webinar on Health Care Reform Reveals Key Provisions that You Must Address NOW” »

Ask the Experts: Pate Steele, Robert Cirkiel and Todd McDonald Discuss Health Care Reform and What it Means For Your Business

On May 4, 2010, Grahall hosted a webinar on the new heath care reform bills signed into law in March 2010.   Presenters Pate Steele of Grahall, Robert Cirkiel of UHY Advisors  and Todd McDonald of Aisling Partners  reviewed the main provisions of the reform, discussed the timeline of events and actions required, and shared information and tools needed to respond to health care reform.

As Robert Cirkiel said pertaining to the Health Care Reform bill, “What you like about the Massachusetts plan you will like about the Federal plan, what you don’t like about the Massachusetts plan you won’t like about the Federal plan”.  Essentially, Massachusetts provides a barometer to gauge the Federal plan’s impact on challenges and opportunities that will face every state in the coming years.

Key issues to look for 2010 and 2011 include:

• Changes in dependent status
• Small employer tax credits
• Reinsurance program
• Grandfathered plans affected by some provisions and not others
• Fall 2010 communications for 2011 open enrollment
• Proceeding with caution to avoid losing your grandfathered status

Todd McDonald shared that, yes, Massachusetts did insure the uninsured and now boasts the highest coverage rate in the country up from 83% to over 97%, but the goal of reducing heath care costs was not achieved.   Healthcare costs for Massachusetts have increased 68% from $1 billion in 2006 to an estimated $1.7 billion in 2010.

There were important lessons learned from the Massachusetts reform including:
• Merger of non-group and group – Increases cost
• Employer mandate – Socially responsible, not necessary
• Minimum creditable coverage – Full disclosure is the issue
• Administrative responsibilities – Keep it simple

Complete recording of the conference call, all presentation materials, and other information are available for download on the Grahall website.  To listen to the session and access the presentation materials, go to http://www.grahall.com/knowledge/event-transcripts/.  The conference content begins about 6 ½ minutes into the recording.

Or contact our presenters:

Pate Steele at pate.steele@grahall.com
Robert Cirkiel at rcirkiel@uhy-us.com
Todd McDonald at tmcdonald@aisling-partners.com

Ask the Experts: Pate Steele, Robert Cirkiel and Todd McDonald discuss ealth Care Reform and what it means for your business

On May 4, 2010 Grahall hosted a webinar on the new heath care reform bills signed into law in March 2010.   Presenters Pate Steele  of Grahall, Robert Cirkiel of UHY Advisors  and Todd McDonald of Aisling Partners  reviewed the main provisions of the reform, discussed the timeline of events and actions required, and shared information and tool needed to respond to health care reform.

Complete recording of the conference call, all presentation materials and other information are available on the Grahall website.  Listen to the conference call (the conference content begins about 6 ½ minutes into the recording) and access the presentation materials.

On March 23, 2010 President Obama signed into Law the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, the following week Obama signed The Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act signed into law.  These 2 laws complete the current efforts to enact comprehensive health care reform in the United States.  The scope and impact of the changes are significant making it imperative for  employers to understand the changes in order to meet new requirements, take advantage of new opportunities and optimize plan designs.

The health care reform bills are essentially just frameworks and the requirements will be defined by as yet to be written regulations.  There are important things to know even before the regulations are released. 

1) Determine if you qualify for the small employer health premium subsidy, this tax credit is “free money” to those who qualify.
2) On June 23, 2010 a reinsurance program will be introduced for employers with retiree medical plans that cover early retirees.  The reinsurance program, funded with $5 billion, is intended to cover 80% of “large claims”.  Employers will need to apply. No doubt there will be an enormous rush to apply for these funds. 
3) Determine if you have “grandfathered” plans not subject to some of the otherwise required changes, and if it makes sense to maintain these plans, and what you do and do not need to be concerned with regarding the new requirements.
4) Begin preparing the communications for 2011 enrollment period.  Employers will need to conform with yet to be written regulations and 2011 mandates. AND any material plan changes must be communicated to employees at least 60 days before the effective date (or 10/31/2010 for plan years beginning 1/1/2011) 

There is more insight, material and tools available on our website.  Complete recording of the conference call, all presentation materials and other information are available on the Grahall website.  To listen to the conference call go http://www.grahall.com/knowledge/event-transcripts/.  The conference content begins about 6 ½ minutes into the recording.  To access the presentation materials go to http://www.grahall.com/knowledge/event-transcripts/

Or contact our presenters:

Pate Steele at pate.steele@grahall.com
Robert Cirkiel at rcirkiel@uhy-us.com
Todd McDonald at tmcdonald@aisling-partners.com