Health Care Reform Timeline

Effective June 1, 2010

• Mailing $250 checks to Medicare individuals to hit the "Donut Hole
• Temporary Retiree Reinsurance Program
• Temporary high-risk pool program

Effective July 1, 2010

• Insurance for uninsured with pre-existing conditions

Effective plan years beginning September 23, 2010

• Adult children coverage to age 26
• Annual limits restrictions
• No Pre-existing Conditions for children 19 and under
• No lifetime limits on the dollar value of benefits
• No rescission of coverage
• No cost for specific preventive care services
• Coverage appeals process
• Emergency services treated as in-network coverage regardless of provider
• Non-discrimination rules for insured plans
• Federal grant program available for small employers providing wellness programs

Effective in 2011

• Unless prescribed by a doctor, OTC drugs will not be reimbursable under HSAs, FSAs, or Archer MSAs
• Reporting the aggregate cost of employer-sponsored health plans on W-2s
• Seniors reaching the "Donut Hole" receive 50% discount on covered brand-name drugs (Donut-Hole closed in 2020)
• Penalties for non-medical HSA withdrawals increase

Effective in 2012

• Rules on supplying benefit/coverage summaries to employees
• Groups and carriers will submit report to HHS on benefits meeting HHS criteria
• Voluntary long-term care program

Effective in 2013

• Medicare payroll tax increases for highly compensated employees
• FSA contributions limits increased
• Federal income tax for unreimbursed medical expenses will increase
• Employer notification to employees of the existence of Exchanges

Effective in 2014

• Mandate to purchase health insurance for all citizens
• States Exchanges
• No Pre-existing condition exclusions
• Wellness program incentive discounts
• Free choice vouchers
• No annual or lifetime limits
• 90-day waiting period limit
• Early retiree reinsurance program ends