In an effort to keep our broker community informed, we have compiled industry specific articles, news and topics that we feel will make a marked impact on your business efforts. We are constantly searching for newsworthy stories to share with you about recent changes about Health Care Reform.

NY Bridge Plan - Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan
8/26/10 - New York State’s health insurance plan for people with pre-existing medical conditions is being administered by GHI, an EmblemHealth company.
In March 2010, Congress passed the health care reform law, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. The law created a temporary program until January 2014 that makes coverage available for individuals who have  pre-existing medical condition, have not had insurance for six months, and who are legal US residents. This new program is called the Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan   (PCIP) and will be available throughout the country. In New York State,  the PCIP plan is the NY Bridge Plan, administered by GHI, an EmblemHealth Company. PCIP plans will operate until the year 2014. At that time other provisions of health care reform will go into effect and state health benefit exchanges will be available for individuals to purchase coverage. There is also an FAQ available.

NJ Protect Plan - Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan
8/26/10 - New Jersey’s new health insurance option for the uninsured - The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), signed by President Barack Obama on March 23, 2010, creates a temporary, national, high-risk health insurance pool program to provide coverage to individuals with pre-existing medical conditions who have been uninsured for the last six consecutive months. It also authorizes the federal government to work with the states to establish and operate temporary, high-risk health insurance coverage for eligible individuals. This coverage will end on December 31, 2013. The state of New Jersey has contracted with Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey to offer two Individual Direct Access Plan C products, NJ Protect 100/70 and NJ Protect 80/70, to eligible,
uninsured New Jersey residents.

NAHU - ACT NOW!
8/17/10 - Calling all NAHU Members! This week we are asking all members to weigh in with their state insurance commissioners, urging them to exempt “pass-through” fees from Medical Loss Ratio (MLR) calculations, as well as to adhere to the statutory language of the health reform law in exempting most federal taxes from the MLR equation. Please review the recent communication from NAHU so that you can take action NOW!