HOW HEALTH CARE REFORM AFFECTS YOU SHELDON F. KURTZ PERCY BORDWELL PROFESSOR OF LAW UNIVERSITY OF...

HOW HEALTH CARE REFORM AFFECTS YOU

SHELDON F. KURTZPERCY BORDWELL PROFESSOR OF LAWUNIVERSITY OF IOWA LAW SCHOOL

The Laws (“Americare”) Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of

2010 Signed into law on March 23, 2010 Passed House 219 (D) to 212 ( 34 D; 178 R; no

abstentions) Passed Senate 60 (58 D; 2 I) to 39 (R; 1

abstention-Bunning of Ky)

Health Care and Education Affordability Reconciliation Act of 2010 Signed into law on March 30, 2010 Passed House 220 to 207 (3 abstentions) Passed Senate 56 to 43 (1 abstention)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:111th_Congress_roll_call_165.svg

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:111th_Congress_1st_session_Senate_roll_call_396.svg

President Obama signs PPACA on March 23, 2010

All 2407 pages

And, Another View

Support for Americare

Seven Significant Features of Health-Care Reform

Requires everyone to have health insurance- the individual mandate

Requires those who can afford insurance but don’t buy it or obtain it from an employer to pay a penalty

Employer Mandate

Health Insurance Exchanges

Provides subsidies or Medicaid to individuals who cannot afford health insurance.

Requires insurance companies to cover all takers

Creates minimum coverages and first-dollar preventive care

Who is Everyone

The new law is expected to add about 32 million people to the insured roles.

Excluded are about 23 million people: Undocumented workers (about 7-8 million or a little over 1/3

of the uninsured) Persons eligible for Medicaid who don’t enroll Individual who opt to pay the penalty (tax) rather than

purchase insurance Those who don’t purchase insurance but are exempt from the

penalty because the cost of the insurance =>8% of their household income.

Individuals with a religious objection to receiving health care benefits. (Same test used for claiming an exemption from self-employment taxes under IRC §1402(g)(1))

Where Will People Get Health Coverage

Through their employer

Medicare (>65)

Medicaid

Through an insurance exchange

Indian Health Service

Armed forces- Tricare

Veterans Administration

Health care sharing ministries

A prison system

From Your Employer

If >200 employees, new employees automatically enrolled in employer’s plan, if any.

If >200 employees, continue enrollment of current employees and notify employees of right to opt out.

If don’t like employer’s plan, you can “opt out.”

Employer Mandate

Penalizes employers with =>50 employees who do not offer coverage if any of its full-time employees receives a premium assistance credit for purchases over an exchange plan• In 2014 if employer offers coverage but has any

employee who receives a premium credit, employer is penalized:• 1/12 of $3,000 for month of the credit per each employee

receiving the credit; however, maximum penalty cannot exceed 1/12 of $2,000 for aggregate number of employees over 30.

• Ex: X Corp has 100 employees, 20 of whom receive premium credit for entire year. X Corp owes government $60,000. If 80 employees received the credit, it would owe $140,000 being the lesser of $2,000x80 or 70 x $2,000.

• After 2014, the penalty will be indexed.

Employer Mandate

Not a large employer: >50

full-time employees

Large employer: =>50 full-time employees

Does not offer coverage Offers coverage

A

No full-time employees receive

credits for exchange coverage

B

1 or more full-time employees receive


C

No full-time employees receive


D

1 or more full-time employees receive


No penalty No penalty Number of full-time employees minus 30 multiplied by $2,000

No penalty Lesser of:

Number of full-time employees minus 30, multiplied by $2,000.

Number of full-time employees who receive credits for exchange coverage, multiplied by $3,000.

Employer Mandate

Rules Relating to Employer Insurance

Cannot exclude an employee because of a pre-existing condition (Eff. 1/1/2014). Pre-1/12014 High Risk Pools

However, as of 6/21/2010 there is current high-risk pool for persons uninsured for at least the 6 previous months having a pre-existing condition can join. This pool was funded with $5 billion.

High risk pool plan must cover 65% of health care costs Premiums set as if for a standard population and not for population of persons

with a high risk, although premiums can vary (no more that 4:1) to take account of geographic area and family composition.

Limits OPM in the high risk pool to $5,950 (single); $11,900 (family)

Eligibility for the employer’s group policy cannot be based upon the employee’s health status, medical condition (physical or mental), claims experience, receipt of health care, medical history, genetic information, evidence of insurability

Employees are guaranteed renewal of their coverage regardless of their health status, claims experience, or any other factors

Family Poverty LevelYearly/Monthly (Current Numbers)

Persons in Family

FPL (4)Annual

(Monthly)L ($)

100% FPL ($)

133%FPL ($)

200%FPL($)

300%FPL($)

400%FPL($)

1 10,830(903)

10,830(903)

14,404(1,200)

21,660(1,805)

32,490(2,708)

43,336(3,611)

2 14,570(1,214)

14,570(1,214)

19,378(1,615)

29,140(2,428)

43,710(3,643)

58,280(4,857)

3 18,310(1,526)

18.310(1,526)

24,353(2,029)

36,620(3,052)

54,930(4,578)

73,240(6,103)

4 22,050(1,838)

22,050(1,838)

29,3272,444)

44,100(3,675)

66,150(5,513)

88,200(7,350)

Other Benchmarks

Annual income of minimum

wage earner working 40

hours a week for 50

weeks is $7.25 per hour or

annually, $14,500

Starting salary of Iowa City

School Teacher is

about $28,000

Average salary of UI

Law graduate in first year is

about $55,000 for in-state and $91,000 out-

of-state

Poorly Paid EmployeesAs of 1/1/2014

Requires employers that cover employees to provide employees with income <400% of the FPL whose share of the premium >8% but is <9.8% of their income with a free choice voucher to allow them to buy insurance through exchange. In 2010 that is $43,336 for a single person, $88,200 for a

family of four. Voucher equals what employer would have paid to cover

employee under the employer’s plan. Allows employees to opt out of employer’s plan in order to find a

less expensive plan that can be purchased over the exchange. Employers which provide voucher are free of the penalty for

employees buying insurance from an exchange who also receive a subsidy

And If A Person is Poor (or Near Poor)

Expanded Medicaid for:Non-medicare eligible individuals <65 with income =<133% FPLFederal government will pay 100% of the costs of expansion from 2014-16, 95% in 2017, 94% in 2018, 93% in 2019 and 90% in 2020 and beyond.

Pregnant women, parents and adults without dependent children with incomes under 133% of the federal poverty level

In 2010 that is $14,404 for a single person and $29,327 for a family of four

And If A Person is Poor (or Near Poor)

For some, there may be cost sharing subsidies for co-payments and deductibles if income <400% FPL

For individuals or families with income =>100% FPL but <400% FPL, there will be premium assistance to subsidize cost of insurance.

Premium Assistance Credit

Premium assistance credit equals cost of silver policy less amount taxpayer expected to pay for insurance. This runs between 2% to 9.5%, indexed. E.g., if income for a family of 4 about

$30,000 and cost of policy is $10,000, then family should pay 3% of income towards cost or $900. Credit is $9,100.

Same but family has income of $88,000. Here family pays 9.5% of income or $8,360 and credit is $1,640.

What are Exchanges

Health insurance exchanges are places to go (they could be physical but more likely will be electronic web sites) where people can go to purchase health insuranceStates must establish by 1/1/2014If state fails to create exchange or only creates an HHS unacceptable exchange, HHS will create the state exchange.

Purpose of Exchange

Require plans have and make public disclosure of the following information in plain language: claims payment policies and practices; periodic financial disclosures; data on enrollment, denied claims, and rating practices; information on cost sharing and payments for out-of-network coverage; and enrollee and participant rights.

Require QHPs to make available timely information about the amount of cost sharing for specific items or services.

Maintain an Internet website for enrollees to obtain standardized comparative information about the health plans.

Assign a rating to each health plan in the Exchange based on the relative quality and price of their benefits.

In Effect Now

Provision Details US Code Citation Comments

No lifetime limits Neither your employer’s group health plan nor a health insurance issuer of group or individual policies can impose a lifetime cap on the dollar amount of your benefits.

42 USC § 300gg—11(a)(1)(A)

No annual caps Neither your employer’s group health plan nor a health issuer of group or individual policies can impose an annual cap on the dollar amounts of your benefits

42 USC § 300gg-11(a)(1)(B)

Note: For plan years before January 1, 2014, the plan can impose a “restricted annual benefit.” This can be a restriction on annual payments for “essential health benefit” (see 42 USC § 18022(b) as determined by HHS

In Effect Now


Rescission Neither your employer’s group health plan nor a health insurance issuer of group or individual policies can rescind the plan or coverage once an individual is enrolled absent your fraud or intentional misrepresentation

42 USC § 300gg-12 There are limited exceptions for “network plans” and cancellations relating to nonpayment of premiums. See 42 USC §§300gg-12; 42 USC 300gg-(1)(c), and 42 USC 300gg-42(b).

Cancellation Neither your employer’s group health plan nor a health insurance issuer of group or individual policies cancel the plan with prior notice to an enrollee.

42 USC §300gg-12

In Effect Now


Pre-existing condition for children <19

Neither your employer’s group health plan nor a health insurance issuer of group or individual policies can exclude children <19 from coverage because of a pre-existing condition.

Act § 10103(e)(2) Doesn't’t apply to grandfathered plans until 1/1/2014

In Effect Now

No cost sharing on preventive health care

Neither your employer’s group health plan nor a health insurer offering group or individual health plans shall charge co-pays or deductibles for preventive health care*

42 USC §300gg-13

*Preventive health services include evidence-based services with ratings of A or B from the US Preventive Services Task Force, See, US Preventive Services Task Force. Also included are approved immunizations, evidence based preventive care for infants, children, and adolescents and other preventive care and screenings for women including screenings as prescribed for women other than that issued in or around November 2009.

http://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf/uspsabrecs.htm

In Effect Now


Dependent coverage for children<26

Group health plans and health insurer’s offering group or individual policies offering dependent coverage must provide that coverage for dependents <26 years of age.

42 USC §300gg-14 Dependents needn't’t live with parents, be claimed as dependents on parents’ tax return, be a student, or be unmarried.

High risk pools for citizens or national with a pre-existing condition.

Persons with a pre-existing condition can qualify for a special high risk pool to provide them with coverage

42 USC § 18001(a) Enrollers in a group health plan cannot be dumped to get into this pool; when the pool terminates on 1/1/2014, enroll can move into a qualified health plan offered by employer or American Health Insurance Exchange so that coverage does not lapse

Tanning Individual who tan will pay at 10% excise tax

IRC § 5000B

In Effect in 2011


W-2 Disclosure The aggregate cost of employer sponsored health insurance shall be disclosed on the employee’s W-2 form regardless of whether employer or employer pays that cost

IRC § 6051(a)(14)

Restriction on use of flex spending accounts

The cost of over-the-counter drugs cannot be reimbursed from a FSA absent a prescription. This rule does not apply to insulin bought over the counter.

IRC §§ 106; 223(d)(2) A like rules applies the HSAs and Archer Medical Savings Accounts

In Effect in 2013


Flexible Spending Account Limitations

Contributions to a flexible spending account are limited to $2,500.

IRC §125(i) Subject to inflation adjustment

Increase in payroll taxes

Individuals earning >$200,000 and couples earning >$250,000 pay Medicare payroll tax at rate of 3.8%

IRC § 3101

Increase in base against which Medicare tax based

Individuals’ investment income =>$200,000 and couples investment income of =>$250,000 subject to 3.8% Medicare tax

IRC § 1411

In Effect in 2014Provision Details (For Group

Health Plans and Issuers of Group or Individual Coverage

US Code Citation Comments

No Annual Dollar Caps Cannot impose annual dollar caps

42 USC § 300gg-11(a)(1)(B)

No pre-existing condition exclusion

Cannot exclude for pre-existing conditions

42 USC § 300gg-3((a) Cannot charge higher rates for persons with pre-existing conditions.

Limitation on other eligibility criteria

Eligibility rules cannot take account of health status, medical condition, claims experience, receipt of health care, medical history, genetic history, evidence of insurability, disability, and other factors determined by HHS

42 USC § 300gg-4(a)

In Effect in 2014


Rating criteria Individual/family, age bands, tobacco use

42 USC § 300gg-(a) Applicable to insurer’s in individual or small group market.

Small group market (employers with =<50 employees

Guaranteed issue Must accept every employee or individual applying for coverage, but may have enrollment periods. Not applicable to insurers demonstrating financial inability to offer coverage

42 USC § 300gg-1(a) Applicable to insurer’s in individual or group market

In Effect in 2014Provision Details US Code Citation Comments

Essential Health Benefits Offered by Health Plans*-What are They

* Health plans for this purpose do not include ERISA plans.

Ambulatory patient services, emergency services, hospitalization, maternity and newborn care, mental health and substance abuse care, prescription drugs, rehabilitative and habilitative services and devices, laboratory services preventive and wellness services, disease management services, pediatric services

42 USC § 18022(b)(2)

Applicable to coverage sold in the individual or small group market For these services, cost sharing (deductibles, co-pays and co-insurance) can not exceed amounts set forth in IRC. Amounts in 2014 currently unknown. In 2010 these amounts would be $5,950 for self-only coverage; $11,900 for family)

Also, deductibles cannot exceed $2,000 for self only policy, $4,000 for family

ERISA self-funded plans do not appear to have to offer “essential health benefits” or be subject to the cost sharing caps.

In Effect in 2014


Essential Health Benefit/Level of Coverage

Bronze (60%), silver (70%), gold (80%), platinum (90%) or catastrophic plan- % applied to “full actuarial value”*

42 USC § 18022(d)(1)(A)

*% applied to “full actuarial value of the benefits provided under the plan” This is measure of a plan’s generosity based on % of medical expenses estimated to be paid by insurer for a standard population and set of allowed charges

In Effect in 2014


Limitations on deductibles

Limits deductibles to $2,000 for a single plan; $4,000 for other plans

42 USC § 18022(c)(2) For small group market; amounts subject to indexing and can be increased to take account of amounts in an FSA

Limit on Cost-Sharing No more than $5,000 for individual or $10,000 for family

IRC § 223(c)(2)(A)(ii); Act § 1302(c)

Cost sharing is sum of co-pays, coinsurance and deductibles; dollar amounts indexed; So in 2014 amount unknown; for 2010 amounts are 5950/11900

In Effect in 2014


Expanded Medicaid Individuals, including adults without dependent children =< 133% of FPL can qualify for Medicaid

SSA § 1902(a)(10)(A)(i)(VIII)

Federal funding to cover costs of these newly eligible Medicaid recipients for two years beginning 1/1/2014 and ending 12/31/2016. Thereafter funding is reduced.

Penalty on employers with >50 employees not providing health insurance

Employers with >50 employees not offering health insurance to full-time employees pay an applicable payment amount of $2,000 per employee in excess of 30.*

IRC § 4980H

* Some might call this a penalty or tax.

In Effect in 2014


Individual Mandate Individuals without minimum essential coverage pay a penalty of $695 (or $2,085 for families) or 2.5% of income by 2016, whichever is greater*

IRC § 5000A (c) Penalty administered by IRS with administrative costs of 1B annually; IRS will withhold tax refunds to enforce penalty but not likely to do more

•These numbers are smaller for years prior to 2016. For 2014, $95 per individual or 1% of income; for 2015, $325 per individual or 2% of income.

•Persons with a religious or hardship exemption (determined by HHS) and persons whose “required contribution to purchase insurance” would exceed 8% of their “household income” on health insurance are exempt. (The 8% is adjusted to reflect increases in the rate of premium growth).

•“Household income” includes the AGI of the taxpayer, the taxpayer’s spouse (if filing jointly), and their dependents whose incomes exceed the filing thresholds.

•“Required contribution” means for individuals eligible to purchase coverage through an employer, the portion of the premium paid by the employee, not the employer; otherwise it is the annual premium for the lowest cost bronze plan available in the individual market through an exchange less the individual’s premium assistance credit

Minimum Essential Coverage Government sponsored insurance

(Medicare, Medicaid, Chips, Tricare, VA, Peace Corp. Indian Health Service)

Eligible employer Sponsored Plan Plans purchased in individual market

over the exchange or directly that meet requirements of act

Grandfathered plans Catastrophic plan

Avoiding the Penalty with a Catastrophic Plan

Avoiding the penalty with a catastrophic plan

PPACA provides no “bare-bones” policy. Exchanges, however, can offer a catastrophic plan, in addition to the bronze, silver, gold, and platinum plans. A catastrophic plan, available for individuals <30 not using any tax credit to obtain coverage, can be purchased from an exchange to avoid the penalty that would otherwise be payable.

A catastrophic plan must cover essential health benefits and at least 3 primary care visits, but must require first dollar cost-sharing up to the Health Savings Account out-of-pocket limits (which are: $5,000 for individual; $10,000 for family.

A catastrophic plan offered by a health insurance issuer can only be offered in the individual health insurance market.

In Effect in 2014


Health insurance exchanges Operated by state or a nonprofit entity offering qualified health plans; must offer plan at both the silver and gold levels and at premium insurance is sold directly to enrollees

42 USC §§ 18021; 18031 If state mandated plans provide benefits in excess of essential health benefits, state must pay for the extra benefits for enrollees receiving premium credits.

Subsidization of persons who cannot afford health insurance through tax credits

Premium assistance credits for persons between 133% and 400% of FPL.

IRC § 36B; The amount of the credit can be refunded following the filing of a tax return or be advanced by the Treasury to an Exchange to reduce the amount payable by the individual eligible for the credit. PPACA § 1412 (IRC § 36B(f)(1).

In Effect in 2014


Voluntary long-term care insurance program available-CLASS

Individuals may enroll and pay premiums towards long-term care coverage if as a result of disability or chronic illness they need help to pay for assistance at home or in a facility

In Effect in 2018Provision Details US Code Citation Comments

Cadillac Plans 40% excise tax on so-called Cadillac Plans for plans costing more than $10,200 for individual coverage; $27,500 for family

These numbers are subject to indexing and are increased to $11,850 and $30,950 for retirees and persons in high risk professions.

Subsidy Calculator-Silver Plan Assume single person, age 28, earning

$40,000 a year

Higher Regional Costs

Medium Regional Costs

Lower Regional Costs

Unsubsidized premiumTax CreditRequired premium payment

40692693800

339103391

271202712

Subsidy Calculator-Silver Plan Assume single person, age 28, earning

$75,000 a year





406904069

339103391

271202712

Subsidy Calculator-Silver Plan Assume married bookstore employee,

age 35, earning $50,000 year who has spouse and two children both under age 7.





1332499393385

1110477183385

888354983385

Subsidy Calculator-Silver Plan Assume married person, age 45, two

children ages under 17, earning $90,000





1139628468550

1424556958550

1709485448550

Exchange Purchased Insurance for the 25-year old Iowa-Law Grad working in Rural Iowa

Income Single Married with 2 children

30000 3391 Premium882 Subsidy2509 Amt. Pd.

Medicaid

40000 3391 Premium0 Subsidy3391 Amt. Pd.

9139 Premium9140 Subsidy1982 Amt. Pd.

65000 Same as above 9139 Premium9140 Subsidy5751 Amt. Pd.

80000 Same as above 9139 Premium9140 Subsidy7600 Amt. Pd.

Exchange Purchased Insurance for the 25-year old Iowa-Law Grad working in Chicago

Income Single Married with 2 children

90,000*

*Subsidy over at about 93,700



120,000 4069 Premium0 Subsidy4069 Amt. Pd.


140000 Same as above Same

165000 In your dreams Same

Will “Americare” Really Happen Suit in Virginia challenging individual

mandates Suit in in Michigan upheld law on a

commerce clause challenge Suit in Florida going forward on issues of

individual mandates and imposing Medicaid costs on states

A new Congress Repeal not likely assuming a presidential

veto

Potential Impacts

Longer waiting time to see doctor Shortage of doctors and other HCPs Large employer plans are likely to continue; but

employees of large employers who discontinue plans could receive wage increases

Grandfathered plans over time to look more like non-grandfathered plans as they are required to comply with coverage mandates

Funding problems Tensions between the House and Senate and

Congress and President Cost savings

HOW HEALTH CARE REFORM AFFECTS YOU SHELDON F. KURTZ PERCY BORDWELL PROFESSOR OF LAW UNIVERSITY OF...

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Transcript of HOW HEALTH CARE REFORM AFFECTS YOU SHELDON F. KURTZ PERCY BORDWELL PROFESSOR OF LAW UNIVERSITY OF...