Health care under attack

Health care is under attack by the Republicans. Even though most of Obama’s health care reform won’t go into effect until 2014, Republicans are vowing to repeal the new health care plan.
Tuesday’s elections were a clear display of voter frustration, but Democrats and Republicans continue to argue about what voters actually want. Certainly the economy was a big factor, but was this a vote against health care too? The Republicans certainly think so, saying they owe it to Americans to repeal it.
John Boehner, will assume the role of House Speaker and has vowed to repeal the Healthcare Reform Bill. The future of Health care reform in the U.S. may very well be decided as a new Congress enters office in January 2011.
But repealing the Healthcare Reform Bill may prove a difficult task for Republicans, because Democrats control the Senate and the White House. A true repeal of health care reform is unlikely before 2012.
Even if Boehner had sufficient votes to repeal health care, the Democrats still control the Senate. Should the repeal pass in the Senate it faces a certain Presidential veto and Congress won’t have enough votes to override it.
Republicans are keeping their eyes on 2012 for a full repeal because the White House will be up for grabs again.

New Health Care Bill: Changes Happening in 2010

• Children age 26 and younger will be able to remain covered under their parents health insurance plans (this is increased from past age limits which were anywhere from age 22-25).
• Medicare recipients will receive a $250 rebate to help in closing the “doughnut hole” (with the goal being to close the doughnut hole completely by 2020).
• Health insurance companies will be banned from excluding coverage for pre-existing conditions for children.
• Adults with pre-existing conditions will be eligible for coverage into high risk health insurance pools until future health care exchanges are up and running.
• Health insurance companies will be prohibited from levying annual limits and lifetime limits on coverage.
• All new health insurance plans must provide coverage for preventative services with no out of pocket cost (all health plans will be forced to comply by 2018).
• Those companies that offer health benefits for early retirees ages 55 to 64 will receive assistance from a temporary reinsurance program.
• All new health insurance plans will have to comply with new regulations that lay out an appeals process for when health insurance claims are denied.
• Small businesses that employ less than 50 people are eligible for a tax credit equal to 35% of their health insurance premiums (this increases to 50% by 2014).
 

New Health Care Bill: Changes Happening in 2011

• Medicare will offer wellness visits for free one a year and personalized prevention plans. All new Medicare plans will offer preventative services with no out of pocket cost.
• Seniors enrolled in Medicare Advantage or the Prescription Drug Plan will receive a 50% discount on brand name drugs immediately with additional prescription drug discounts to follow.
• The current penalty tax of 10% on all distributions from a Health Savings Account before the age of 65 on nonqualified medical expenses will increase to 20%.
• A small business alternative to a cafeteria plan will be presented so that small businesses can offer tax free benefits without having to deal with the administrative costs of a cafeteria plan.
• Everyone earning more than $200,000 as an individual or $250,000 for those who file married filing jointly will have their Medicare payroll tax increased from the current 1.45% to 2.35%.