Tweet

Health Care Affordability Act: It’s Only The Third Inning

Guest post by: Betsey Nash

Article Overview: PPACA (the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act) has created a lot of questions for everyone. This article will help clarify a little bit of what we know so far (as of May 2010). It may be quite a while before we know everything - but we'll keep you posted.

Health Care Affordability Act: It’s Only The Third Inning

Last month all you heard in the HR locker-rooms were complaints about all the texting going on. Employees were finding ways to bypass surveillance cameras and text blind. If a company uses Twitter to network socially about their business, how can they differentiate personal texting from business tweeting? OMG! Well, this week, all the talk is about health care reform and how it affects the business and the employees. The reforms put in place by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) are designed to phase in gradually, but some things happen pretty quickly. And just because the biggest changes don't take place until 2013 doesn't mean that everyone doesn't want to know right now what lies ahead. Our Safety Division Manager received demands for details from four of her Safety clients in the first two days, and our staffing staff got earfuls from clients and candidates alike. Of course, we in the HR Division were swamped with requests for info that wasn't yet available.

So here are some of the basics that we know to date. As the presenter in a statewide webinar I attended recently said: "We are only in the third inning of what may be an extra-inning game, folks." Translation: The law is passed but now the detailed regulations, standards, and enforcement get hammered out, and that will take a while.

• Now: Small employers (less than 25 FT employees, or the equivalent in part-time) are immediately eligible for a 2010 tax break of up to 35% of the cost of premiums if they provide at least 50% of the cost of their employees' healthcare coverage. During the week of April 19th, small business owners were sent postcards by the IRS, and the jokes about the IRS "finally taking a hike" were plentiful.

• June: A temporary high-risk pool will be established to provide access to insurance for Americans previously denied coverage due to pre-existing conditions.

• September: Lots of things kick in:

o Health plans may not deny coverage to children with pre-existing conditions.

o Health plans must allow young people up to age 26 to remain on their parent's policy. Unless they're married. Not sure about school requirements yet and I have seen opposite answers to the question of whether the child must be a dependent.

o Health plans can no longer drop people when they get sick or place caps on lifetime coverage.

o Tight restrictions on annual policy limits. Details to be supplied by the Department of Health and Human Services.

One of the provisions of the PPACA that will impact employers and their employees is that some coverage plans will be grandfathered in even if they don't meet the minimum coverage requirements.

If we are in the 3rd inning now, I am hoping for some clarity and direction before the 7th inning stretch. For now, assure your employees that we are on their team. Not that there really is an HR locker room, but you know what I mean.

Related Articles
  The Uninsured: Don't Fall Through The Cracks
  Your Sales Force - Who is Playing on Your Team?
  The Health Care Shift – Bending the Cost Curve
  The Sales Management Equivalent to Baseball's Pitch Count
  Health Plans vs. Health Insurance In America
  Private Health Insurance Options
  Sales Calls are Like the 1978 AL Playoff Game
  How ICD-10 Will Change Health Insurance
  Florida Health Insurance Corp Reports Health Care Reform
  5 Best Ways To Save On Health Insurance
  Alternative Financing Options - Home Health Care Factoring
  Pros And Cons Of Socialized Medicine
  Is COBRA healthcare coverage the best deal?
  My Friends are Always Asking Me - What's the Best Franchise?
  NEEDED
  Kaiser Permenente - User Submitted Health Plan Reviews
  HMO Health Insurance Plans
  How do HMO and Private Plans Compare?
  The Annual Deductible of a Health Insurance Policy
  How Home Health Care Agencies Can Qualify for Invoice Funding

Article Tags: care act, health care affordability, patient protection, PPACA, questions



Related Forum Posts
Re: Are Economic Recessions Good for Franchising? - All we can do is remain wide awake and pay attention to the ebb and flow. My strategy is to be prepared and go with the flow. There could be some rough times ahead... Interestingly, our business has remained strong. I believe it's because we're in such a tight little niche and we're well positioned to sign jobs nationwide, therefore we're not restricted to location. We also target affluent markets that have higher disposable incomes - this we do locally. Here are some Franchise Categories that could weather a good recession... Health and Personal Care Food services like Subway Debt Collection Tax Preparers & Advisors Any other recession proof franchise opps out there?
Re: HI@All - Hi David, Welcome to the forum. Look forward to your contributions here. Take Care, Alan
Home Care Business Opportunity - You should not buy a franchise until you review our Senior Care Business Opportunity... Michael Gultz
Re: Hi Everybody - Hey Tim! Welcome to the forums. We're no stranger, either, and I look forward to the insight and discussions you'll bring here. Take Care, Alan
Re: Hi from Adelaide Australia - Hey Dave, Welcome aboard! Great to have you here. Looking forward to your contributions in the forums. Take Care, Alan


Share this article with your friends. Fund someone's dream.

Leave a comment below or share on the left and you'll help support entrepreneurs in Africa through our partnership with Kiva. Over $50,000 raised and counting - Please keep sharing! Learn more.

Newsletter

Get advice & tips from famous business
owners, new articles by entrepreneur
experts, my latest website updates, &
special sneak peaks at what's to come!

Name:
Email:

Popular Articles

Time management for DIY PR

Designing Employee-Enhancing Training Programs

12 Principles to Spark Innovation

Suggestions

Email us your ideas on how to make our
website more valuable! Thank you Sharon
from Toronto Salsa Lessons / Classes for
your suggestions to make the newsletter
look like the website and profile younger
entrepreneurs like Jennifer Lopez.