Posted: 06.21.2010
Health Care Reform - Are You Ready?

With the passage of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, a massive overhaul of the health care system will take place. There are still many questions surrounding how the regulations detailed in the bill will be implemented. Below is a brief highlight of some of the most impactful provisions of the bill. This summary is not all inclusive.

These privisions apply to the design of the new fully insured & self funded health plans:

• Lifetime Limits / Annual Limits - Lifetime & Annual limits will be prohibited on certain health benefits.
• Dependant Children - Plans must allow dependent children, married or unmarried, to be eligible until age 26.
• Pre-Existing Condition Exclusions - Exclusions of pre-existing conditions will be prohibited effective as of the first day of the first plan year beginning on or after January 1, 2014 (earlier for children under age 19).
• Preventive Services Coverage - Plans must offer first dollar coverage with respect to certain preventive care services.

These provisions are not specific to medical plan design:

• Medical Loss Ratio Reporting / Premium Rebates - Health Insurers must publicly report the percentage of total premium revenue spent on claims activities vs. non-claims costs. Beginning in 2011, if more than 15% (large groups) or 20% (small groups) of the premium collected is expended on non-claims costs, insurers will be required to provide a premium rebate.
• Small Employer Tax Credit - Starting in 2010, small employers (with no more than 25 full time employees with average annual wages of less than $50,000) who provide health care coverage to their workers will be eligible for a tax credit.

Brown & Brown of Detroit's goal is to assist all of our clients in understanding these complex reform regulations. To keep you up to date on this legislation, Brown & Brown is providing client reviews, periodic email alerts, posting informative documents to our internet site at www.bbdetroit.com and hosting an educational employer seminar on health care reform. For more information, please contact your Brown & Brown insurance representative at 586.977.6300.

Posted: 06.21.2010
Michigan Catastrophic Claims Association Assessment Increases...

Posted: 06.17.2010
Health Care Reform Time Line...

Posted: 06.17.2010
For Lease Property Vacancy...

Posted: 03.22.2010
Wellness Incentives - How They Work Through Encouragement and Reward...

Posted: 03.22.2010
Tuition Insurance Program Keeps Students in School “While Protecting School’s Cash Flow”...

Posted: 03.22.2010
Estate Tax Changes: What does it mean?...

Posted: 03.22.2010
When is Flood Insurance Needed? ...

Posted: 03.22.2010
HIPAA Breach Notification Requirements...

Posted: 02.20.2009
New COBRA Premium Subsidy...

Posted: 02.10.2009
ALCOS Transitions Name to Brown & Brown of Detroit...

Posted: 11.20.2008
FMLA – “Final Rule” Becomes Effective on January 16, 2009....

Posted: 11.03.2008
Michelle’s Law – Continued health coverage for college students...

Posted: 10.22.2008
The Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008...

Posted: 08.01.2008
Strategies to Wring Out Savings in your Health Plan - By Steve Hettrick...

Posted: 06.03.2008
BCBS issuing redesigned member ID cards...

Posted: 03.27.2008
Changes Affecting the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)...

Posted: 03.13.2008
Health Savings Accounts – The Healthcare 401k...

Posted: 02.15.2008
Proposed Rule Changes to FMLA; Submit Your Comments to the DOL...

Posted: 09.06.2007
Communicating the “Big Picture” Can Lessen the Pain of Benefit Changes...

Posted: 09.01.2007
ALCOS Expert Speaks about Wellness in the Workplace. ...

Posted: 07.06.2006
Wellness Program Spawns Camaraderie, Fitness and Health...

Posted: 04.10.2006
ALCOS and Management Impact Partner to Help with HR Issues...

Posted: 10.20.2005
MYWave HR Assistant Launched...

Posted: 10.10.2005
Voluntary Benefits Give your Employees Choices While Keeping Costs Down...

Posted: 06.16.2005
Medicare Part D: What Employers Need to Know...

Posted: 03.31.2005
New COBRA Notice and Disclosure Rules Now in Effect...

Posted: 03.30.2005
New System for Blue Cross Blue Shield Pharmacy Claims; Benefits Do Not Change...

Posted: 09.31.2004
Step Therapy: A Strategy to Reduce Prescription Drug Costs...

Posted: 06.10.2004
Look Before You Leap: The Attraction of Health Saving Accounts...