Agenda - 10-12-2010 - Board of Health Meeting

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12 high risk pools, new high risk pools, Medicaid, Medicare and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). For more information about the web portal, see: http://www.hhs.Gov/ociio/reeulations/index.html#health care reform. The first version of the web portal (www.healthcare.gov) was launched July 1, 2010. The law also requires exchanges to establish a Navigator program that will award grants to entities to promote public education about and enrollment in the exchanges. For more information about the exchanges, see the National Association of Insurance Commissioners' document: http://www.naic.or~/documents/committees b Exchanges.pdf Other Coverage Questions Is there a provision in the health reform law for all children to have health insurance? Most children would be covered through their parents' employer-provided health insurance plans, Medicaid, the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIl'), or through a plan their parents purchase through the health insurance exchanges that will begin operating in 2014. However, some children will remain without coverage, such as children whose parents do not choose to purchase coverage through the exchange and do not get enrolled in Medicaid or CHIP, as well as children who do not meet citizenship requirements. Does the health reform law offer any other coverage plan options? Yes, potentially-in 2014 states will be allowed the option to create a Basic Health Plan for uninsured individuals who have incomes between 133-200% FPL, who would otherwise be eligible for premium tax credits on the exchange. The benefits in the Basic Health Plan must be at least equivalent to the essential health benefits package determined by the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services and that premiums do not exceed those in the exchanges. Important Issues for Employers What are some of the key initial health insurance changes that counties will need to implement in terms of the health benefits they provide their employees? There are provisions that expand dependent coverage requirements, a new voluntary, self-funded, insurance program for opt-out long-term care insurance and other changes related to reporting requirements, some of which will occur in 2010 and 2011. Will all employer health plans be affected by these changes? Not necessarily-plans in effect on March 23, 2010 are considered "grandfathered plans" and are exempt from some of the new requirements, such as requirements to provide coverage that includes preventive services, immunizations and screenings without beneficiary cost-sharing requirements. (Rules for grandfathered plans were published jointly by the Treasury Department, the Department of Labor, and the Deparhnent of Health and Human Services in the Federal Register on June 17, 2010 and are available here: http://edocket.access.~o.~ov/2010/pdf/2010-14488.pdf.) Will there be changes for nonprofit organizations that provide health insurance benefits for their employees? All employers are treated the same under the law, whether non-profit or for-profit. The differences will depend on the number of employees and the kind of health insurance benefits that are offered.