Filed under: Health Reform, Human Resources, Notes from Ted | Tags: Health Reform, Human Resources, Insurance Reform
posted by Ted A. Kirchharr, Vice-President & Chief Operating Officer, Landrum Human Resources
As Americans watched the debate over health insurance reform with varying degrees of interest, I was reminded of German Chancellor Otto von Bismarck’s famous quote about lawmaking: “The less people know about how sausages and laws are made the better they will sleep.” After watching our Congress at work I couldn’t agree more!
Without question, big changes are in store for the American people. Many of the changes will be phased in over the next several years. For example, the fines for individuals not having health insurance will not begin until 2014. Some provisions, however, will be implemented rather quickly. A new subsidized, high-risk insurance program for those with pre-existing conditions will become available three months after enactment of the bill. Six months after enactment, lifetime limits on medical coverage will be prohibited for many plans.
The biggest change for employers will impact those with more than 50 employees. Beginning in 2014, you may be subject to federal fines if you do not offer employees health insurance. Unfortunately federal rules will have to be written to implement many aspects of the bill, thus prolonging the uncertainty. This is in addition to the inevitable court challenges that are sure to come.
We have found some useful websites to follow this important issue. The Kaiser Family Foundation has a wealth of information about the legislation. The US Department of Health and Human Services is the site to monitor for guidance, as is the government’s Medicare site. As we identify more sites we’ll add them to our blog.
We’ll likely see continued debate and information (as well as misinformation) on this topic over the next several months. Sausage anyone?
