Recent News Articles The real winners in health care reform: kids at OregonLive.com, July 20, 2010. Mom-and-pops could be in line for tax credits via health care reform in Honolulu Star-Advertiser, July 16, 2010. Big insurance changes for Californians with pre-existing conditions in San Jose Mercury News, June 11, 2010. Sick children get guarantee of health insurance in Chicago Tribune, June 7, 2010. HMSA Initiating Health Care Provision for Young Adults Early at HMSA.com, May 3, 2010. High-Risk Pool Programs Take a Step Forward at HealthReform.gov, April 30, 2010. New Health Care Law a Godsend for Lawyer and Family in McClatchy Newspapers, April 25, 2010. Kids Covered Longer in Honolulu Star-Bulletin, Honolulu, April 18, 2010. Early Wins for Children and Families in Health Care Reform at Center for Children and Families, April 13, 2010. Benefits to Real People, Real Lives in National Journal Online, April 12, 2010. How Will the Health Care Reform Law Affect Children With Pre-Existing Conditions? in New York Times, New York Times, April 11, 2010. Summary of Small Business Health Insurance Tax Credit Under PPACA (P.L. 111-148) by Congressional Research Service, April 5, 2010. What Does Health Care Reform Mean for Kids and Families? in Christian Science Monitor, March 22, 2010. Resource Web Sites Center on Budget and Policy Priorities: Health Reform Center on Children and Families: Implementing Health Care Reform DHHS Updates: Health Reform Blog Families USA: Health Care Reform Central Kaiser Family Foundation: Health Care Reform Gateway Questions and Answers: Health Care Reform Explained (AARP) Urban Institute: Health Care Reform Publications Key Health Care Reform Dates for Children and Families Source: Georgetown University's Center for Children and Families 2010 States must maintain Medicaid and CHIP eligibility levels and enrollment procedures in effect on March 23, 2010 (until 2014, with some exceptions, for adults and 2019 for children). States can continue to expand eligibility or simplify enrollment in Medicaid and CHIP. Small employers receive tax credits to purchase employee health care premiums. States have option (under certain conditions) to provide CHIP to children of state employees. By July 1, 2010, a temporary, high-risk pool is established for qualified uninsured persons with pre-existing conditions (in place until 2014). Seniors begin to receive rebates/discounts toward drug coverage (with elimination of the “doughnut hole” by 2020). After September 23, 2010 (as a new health plan year begins): * Young adults can remain on their parents’ health plan until age 26. * Children with insurance can no longer be denied coverage for pre-existing conditions. * Insurance plans can no longer impose lifetime caps or restrictive annual limits on coverage, and cannot rescind coverage when a person becomes sick. * New plans must provide free preventive services to all enrollees. 2011-2013 By March 23, 2011, states provided federal grants to plan for and establish Exchanges. Medicaid physician payments increased, at federal cost, to Medicare levels for primary care services (for 2013 and 2014). Medicare beneficiaries receive annual exams and other preventive services at no cost. 2014 Most people required to purchase coverage or pay a tax penalty. New federal Medicaid floor of 133% of the FPL (based on adjusted gross income with 5 percent disregard) for adults and children. Medicaid and CHIP coverage for children still maintained. Enhanced federal financial assistance for states covering newly-eligible adults and for expansion states (those that already cover adults up to or above 100% of the FPL) covering childless adults. Individuals (including lawfully residing immigrants) and small businesses can purchase affordable coverage through state-based Exchanges; low- to moderate-income families receive premium tax credits and cost sharing subsidies. Children up to age 26 who "age-out" of foster care are eligible to continue receiving Medicaid. Insurance companies must cover the care of pre-existing conditions for both adults and children, can no longer set annual coverage limits (in addition to lifetime limits), and cannot deny coverage or charge higher premiums based on health status. Exchanges must be financially self-sustaining by end of 2014. 2015 CHIP funded through September 30, 2015. If state runs out of federal funding, children can be enrolled in comparable Exchange plans. States receive a 23 percentage points increase in CHIP federal match rate (effective October 1, 2015).