The Uncertainty of Obamacare: How Much Will It Change?
Last week, two significant developments are set to impact the law known as Obamacare. Last Wednesday, the White House announced the extension of the so-called "Keep Your Plan" fix beyond the initial October 1 deadline and on Thursday, a top official linked to the health care plan, announced his resignation.
Constant Obamacare Changes
Critics of the administration categorized the extension as an election-year fix designed to protect Democrats in the upcoming 2014 mid-term elections. The initial fix was announced back in November -- when millions of individuals began receiving cancellation notices for their existing insurance policies. These policies were cancelled because they provided minimal coverage and didn't meet the regulatory standards set by the Affordable Care Act.
The November fix extended previously-cancelled plans for one year. However, because cancellation notices must be sent out 90 days prior to a policy being cancelled -- these notices would be sent out in September, just as the mid-term congressional races are heating up.
"I don’t see how they could have a bunch of these announcements going out in September,” a health insurance industry source told The Hill. "Not when they’re trying to defend the Senate and keep their losses at a minimum in the House. This is not something to have out there right before the election."
In extending the fix, the move is simply the latest in a long line of changes to President Barack Obama's signature piece of legislation. Supporters and critics of the president alike point out that all of these changes had developed an air of uncertainty to the law. And, if this pattern of changes continues -- the law may be unrecognizable in a year or two.
In February, the Treasury Department delayed a part of the law that required employers with more than 50 employees to provide health insurance for their full-time workers or else pay a penalty. Also known as "the employee mandate," this part of the law was delayed one year, to January 1, 2015.
In November 2013, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced that an online marketplace for small businesses looking to provide coverage would not open for one full year. The delay in the Small Business Health Options Program (SHOP) means that small businesses in 36 states looking to provide coverage for their workers must go through independent brokers or use paper applications. If you are a small business or group looking for insurance, please contact us, www.Health-Life-Dental-Insurance.com to make the process smooth and seamless.
An Unusual Resignation
Last Thursday, Gary Cohen, an official who has played a major part in the roll-out of Obamacare, resigned. The former Director of the Center for Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight is expected to be replaced by Mary Cohen, but the move reinforces the idea that the ACA and those around it are in a constant state of flux.
Source Links: http://thehill.com/blogs/healthwatch/health-reform-implementation/199784-new-obamacare-delay-to-help-midterm-dems http://inhealth.cnn.com/making-healthcare-decisions/understanding-delays-in-the-affordable-care-act http://www.foxbusiness.com/economy-policy/2014/02/12/28-delays-and-counting-to-health-reform/ http://www.cnn.com/2014/03/06/politics/obamacare-resignation/
