Health Care

Whether you are for or against the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), it is changing the landscape of health care insurance as we know it. The most recent sign of the changing times is an announcement that 2.5 million young adults have picked up insurance coverage over the past year. This is largely due to PPACA’s requirement that young adults can stay on their parents’ health insurance policy until the age of 26. BenefitMall has covered this requirement extensively in a number of blogs that are posted on www.healthcareexchange.com.

Without a doubt, health care is going to be a hot button issue in the rapidly approaching 2012 presidential election. While GOP hopefuls  agree - President Obama’s Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) needs to be repealed—they have very different opinions regarding the future of health care in our country.

According to a recent survey, “Health care and the national deficit tied as the second-most important issue after job creation in the 2012 U.S. presidential election. Forty-two percent of the 1,000 adults nationwide surveyed by PwC's Health Research Institute said they would prefer lower health care costs over an economic rebound.”

Battles continue to rage between House Republicans, Senate Democrats and the Obama Administration on a variety of financial and health care issues. As always, BenefitMall pledges to keep you up-to-date on the latest topics affecting the healthcare industry. Here are some brief snapshots of what is just around the corner.[1]

The Looming Debt Crisis

The U.S. debt reached the maximum allowed debt level on May 16, stretching to the ceiling of $14.3 trillion.[2] Both parties have been unable to reach an agreement to address the debt and federal spending problems, forcing the Department of Treasury (DOT) to take “extraordinary measures” by suspending the issuance of new debt and tapping two federal employee pension funds.[3] According to DOT, this will allow the government to continue functioning until August 2 when the tapped pension funds will be depleted.[4] Despite current grandstanding by all parties involved, a compromise must be reached by that date or the government will face another threat of shutdown.

What is all of the hoopla about Accountable Care Organizations, more commonly known as ACOs? Last week, the long-awaited proposed regulations were issued. Now we might have some answers.  

The draft rules for the establishment and operation of ACOs, authorized under Section 3022 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act[1] (PPACA), were released on March 31.[2] The ACO interim rules, which exceed 400 pages, are being published for public comment. To review the proposed rules, click here.[GC1]  As with any set of proposed rules released for public comment, we can anticipate changes to these rules before they become law.

Last week, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) unveiled Healthy People 2020, which identifies the nation’s 10-year goals for promoting health and preventing disease.

This program, and its associated educational materials, can serve as a helpful resource to brokers and agents as they provide support to their clients.  While most insurance coverage is still geared to treating individuals when they get sick, identifying resources to promote a healthier lifestyle is an important goal for everyone, no matter what age or type of insurance coverage they have.