Healthcare Reform Timeline

2010

• No Lifetime or Annual Limits – No lifetime or annual maximum limits on essential benefits.
• No Preexisting restriction for children – No children under 19 can be denied coverage for preexisting conditions.
• Tax Credits for Small Employers – Employers with fewer than 25 employees and average annual wages of less than $50,000 may be able to claim a tax credit on 2011 tax return.
• Preventive Service Coverage – Plans must cover preventive services without members sharing costs.
• Nondiscrimination Testing – Employer plans are barred from favoring highly compensated employees.
• Reinsurance for employers with retirees – Program for employers providing insurance to retirees over 55 not eligible for Medicare.

2011

• New Restriction in HSA, FSA and MSA Fund Use – Over the counter drugs can no longer be reimbursed and tax for non-medical is 20%.
• Wellness Grants for Small Businesses – Employers with fewer than 100 employees can tap into over $200 million in federal grants.
• W-2 Reporting – Employee’s W-2 must report health coverage that is excluded from employees’ gross income.
• Community Living Assistance – Assistance for those with limitation encouraging employers to auto enroll employees in program.

2013

• Administration Simplification – Rules established making payments, enrollment claims and authorization process simpler.
• Medicare Tax Increase - Part A tax rate on wages goes up from 1.45% to 2.3% for certain individuals.
• Employers Must Inform Employees of Health Options – Employers must provide info on employer plans, health exchanges, and subsides.

2014

• Individual Mandate – Everyone must have insurance or pay a penalty.
• Employer Mandate – Employers with more than 50 employees must provide coverage pay penalty if any employee receives a subsidy.
• Large Employers Auto Enrollment – employers with more than 200 full-time employees that offer coverage must auto enroll employees. Employees can not opt out.
• Health Insurance Exchanges – State must have exchanges up and running by 2014 or the federal government set it up.
• Wellness Incentives - Employers can offer rewards of up to 30-50% of premiums to employees who take part in wellness and meet health standards.
• No Preexisting Condition Exclusions – Coverage can not be denied for those with preexisting conditions.
• Comprehensive Coverage Requirement – Individual and small group plans must include essential benefits.
• Limits on Deductibles and Copayments – Group health plans deductibles are limited to amounts allowed for HSA plans.
• Ban on All Annual Limits – Plans may no longer impose any annual benefits limits.

2018

• Cadillac Plan Excise Tax – Tax on employer plans valued at over $10,200 for individuals and $27,500 for families.

Information provided by the Word & Brown Companies