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CCH® BENEFITS — 8/19/09

State Health Care Reform Update

from Spencer’s Benefits Reports: For the last few years, states have been leading the way toward more comprehensive health care coverage to ensure that more people have or can obtain health insurance. Because of the potential impact of this ongoing activity on employer-provided health insurance benefits, Spencer’s Benefits Reports provides regular updates about state health care reform.

California. The state has cut back on health insurance for children. Currently, nearly 1 million low-income children are enrolled in the state’s Healthy Families program. In the next year, California will be freezing enrollment in the program. Officials say that more than 350,000 will not get coverage, and uninsured children will be placed on a waiting list. For more information, visit http://www.healthyfamilies.ca.gov/Home/default.aspx.

Colorado. As of June 2009, there were 467,556 state residents on Medicaid, or 79,488 (20.5%) more than in June 2008. State officials report that this is the highest total in the 40 years Colorado has participated in Medicaid. For more information, visit http://www.colorado.gov/cs/Satellite/HCPF/HCPF/1197969485591.

Connecticut. The state has passed legislation to revamp its health care system by approving a plan to cover uninsured residents despite budget pressures. Connecticut’s legislature overrode Gov. Jodi Rell’s veto to enact a universal coverage law slated to go into effect by 2012. The bill would cover almost all Connecticut citizens and create a publicly run health care option for individuals and small businesses. The bill would establish a board that would work until 2011 to draft detailed legislation, as the current bill lacks specifics. Ms. Rell criticized the legislation, saying that it would cost the state $1 billion per year. For more information, visit http://www.ct.gov/cid/site/default.asp.

Massachusetts. Gov. Deval Patrick’s administration has voted unanimously to adopt a system where doctors and hospitals receive a monthly or annual fee per patient, rather than be paid for each office visit or procedure. The state believes that this will help with keeping costs more affordable for the state’s universal health care program. The plan would require significant restructuring of the health care system, and would need legislative approval.

New Hampshire. The state has expanded health insurance to young adults by allowing them to purchase low-cost health insurance from a state plan that was designed to offer insurance options for adults younger than age 26 who can not buy health insurance through their families or employers. Under the law, the state’s Healthy Kids plan will offer insurance to young adults who earn less than $43,000 per year. In addition, the state has approved legislation that will help small businesses save up to 20% on health care costs. The New Hampshire Healthcare First plan will give businesses with fewer than 50 workers additional health care incentives, such as health questionnaires, disease management programs, and wellness incentives, which will keep workers healthy and insurance costs low. For more information, visit http://www.nhhealthykids.com/.

New York. The state has passed a new law that will require health plans that cover dependent children to extend coverage to unmarried children through age 29. The children must not be insured by, or eligible for coverage under, any employer health benefit plan. For more information, visit http://assembly.state.ny.us/leg/?bn=S06030.

Utah. On August 19, Utah employees of some small businesses will be able to compare and buy health insurance plans in an online exchange. The Utah Health Exchange is designed to improve the affordability and accessibility of policies and make the health care market more transparent. On August 19, the exchange will start enrolling up to 150 small employer groups with two to 50 employees who intend to offer their workers this option. Then, in early November, their workers will be able to log on and pick the plan they like best. Their coverage will begin Jan. 1, 2010. The exchange will be available to large employers beginning in late 2011. For more information, visit http://www.utahinsuranceexchange.info/.

For more information on this and related topics, consult the CCH Pension Plan Guide, CCH Employee Benefits Management, and Spencer's Benefits Reports.

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