While the majority of health insurance reform provisions go into effect in 2014, there are a number of provisions that take effect in 2010. Here’s an overview of the provisions that become effective this year:
Immediately at enactment
- Grandfathering – Plans and individuals that “renew” their coverage are exempt from any provisions of the law. These “grandfathered plans” must comply, however, with the following provisions of the law: extend dependent coverage through age 26, prohibit rescissions, eliminate waiting periods greater than 90 days, and eliminate pre-existing condition exclusions for children
- Small employer tax credits – provides premium subsidies for small groups with 25 or fewer employees and average salaries of $40K or less
Less than six months
- High-risk pool program – establish a temporary national high-risk pool for individuals with pre-existing medical conditions. (effective 90 days post enactment through January 1, 2014)
- Temporary reinsurance for employer retirees – Creates a temporary reinsurance for employers providing health insurance coverage to retirees over 55 who are not eligible for Medicare (effective 90 days post enactment through January 1, 2014)
Six months plus
- No lifetime limits – Eliminates all lifetime limits on the dollar value of coverage (effective six months post enactment)
- Restrictions on rescissions – Prohibits insurers from rescinding coverage except in the cases of fraud (effective six months post enactment)
- No pre-existing conditions for children – Eliminate pre-existing condition exclusions for children under 19 (effective six months post enactment)
- Dependent age 26 – Extends dependent coverage to age 26 (effective six months post enactment)
- Preventive care with no cost sharing – Eliminates cost-sharing for certain preventive services (effective January 1, 2011)
- Appeals process – Individuals have access to an internal and external appeals process to appeal decisions by their health insurance plan.