Federal Health Care Reform Update, 9/23/10
The following key provisions of the Affordable Care Act become law today, and take effect at a group health plan's next renewal. For the State Health Plan ("Plan"), these provisions will go into effect on the renewal date of July 1, 2011:
- Plans can no longer require pre-existing condition waiting periods for children under age 19.
- Plans must allow adult dependent children up to age 26 – who are not eligible for employer-sponsored health benefits -- to remain on the Plan, regardless of student or marital status.
- Only new plans must provide coverage of preventive care without copayments. (Note: This does not apply to existing group plans.)
The State Health Plan is currently in compliance with the following provisions that go into effect today, September 23, 2010:
- Plans are not allowed to drop sick and/or costly customers due to technical mistakes on applications.
- Plans cannot have lifetime limits on essential benefits.
- Plans must make available an external appeals process.
- Plans must not require prior authorization for emergency services.
For more information on the Affordable Care Act, visit www.HealthCare.gov.
