SPECIAL BULLETIN: White House Summit and COBRA Eligibility Period

WHITE HOUSE HEALTH CARE REFORM SUMMIT

On Monday, Feb. 22, President Barack Obama released an 11-page, $950 billion health care reform proposal, ahead of Thursday's highly anticipated bipartisan health care reform summit. While the president's proposal only included a set of policy priorities, not legislative language, its principles are similar to the Senate-passed health care reform legislation.

Congressional and committee leaders from both parties participated in a day-long Health Care Reform Summit, on Thursday, Feb. 25, along with other members designated by their party's leadership. The summit was both cordial, as well as contentious, with Congressional leaders oftentimes arguing over their fundamental differences and beliefs.

President Obama, who moderated the summit, wrapped up the day-long discussion on health care reform by telling Republicans to find common ground with Democrats in the upcoming weeks, or that Democrats will "go ahead and make some decisions," likely meaning that the Democrats will pass the current health care reform legislation through the budget reconciliation process. Many Republicans stated during the summit that they want to scrap the current health care reform bills and start over, taking a more incremental approach.

It remains to be seen how both political parties will proceed in the coming weeks.


EXTENDED SUBSIDY ELIGIBILITY PERIOD EXPIRES SUNDAY UNLESS CONGRESS ACTS AGAIN

The extended two-month eligibility period for the premium subsidy program is set to end this Sunday, Feb. 28, 2010. This means that workers involuntarily terminated starting March 1 will not be eligible to receive the 65 percent premium reduction of COBRA or state continuation benefits.

Many believe there is Congressional support for extending the premium subsidy eligibility period again, and expect consideration of the issue in coming weeks.

Our hope is that any extension will be passed before the eligibility period ends this Sunday, to avoid another retroactive benefits period. As of this morning, the House has passed a voice vote to extend the subsidy by one month. It now goes to the Senate, but isn't expected to pass before week's end.

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Since its conception, the Dynamic Professional Women’s Network has positioned itself to be a very functional platform for women to develop the valuable connections necessary to grow in our professional as well as personal lives.

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AARP Health Insurance for 50+

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HR Alert -- Federal and Illinois State Minimum Wage

On July 24, 2009, the current Federal Minimum Wage rate of $6.55 per hour will increase to $7.25 per hour.

As a reminder for Illinois employers, the state’s minimum wage increased to $8.00 an hour starting on July 1, 2009. The state minimum wage will also increase by an additional 25 cents on July 1, 2010.

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So What's Really Driving the Increase in Health Insurance Premiums?

I am sure you are all wondering right?

While many people may believe that insurer profits are the driving force behind increasing health insurance premiums, research reveals very different reasons for the high cost of health insurance.

A May 2009 report titled "What's Really Driving the Increase in Health Care Premiums?" addresses the issue. The report, issued by the WellPoint Institute of Health Care Knowledge, compiles research from sources such as PricewaterhouseCoopers, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the Kaiser Family Foundation, The Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Congressional Budget Office.

According to the report the "key drivers" of spiraling U.S. health care costs are:

• Advances in medical technology and subsequent increases in utilization;
• Price inflation for medical services that exceeds inflation in other sectors of the economy;
• Cost-shifting from people who are uninsured and those receiving Medicare and Medicaid to the private sector;
• High cost of regulatory compliance; and
• Patient lifestyles, such as smoking, physical inactivity and obesity.

Citing PricewaterhouseCoopers research from 2008, the report found that only three cents of every health care premium dollar is spent on health insurer profit.

According to the Institute's report, newer medical technologies tend to increase costs because they are generally more expensive than the older technologies they replace. While the availability of more advanced, superior technologies can yield better results for some patients, these technologies and diagnostic tests may be used inappropriately in some situations where existing, older technologies are more effective and accurate.

A copy of the full report is available by clicking on the link below.

http://www.wellpoint.com/pdf/Premium%20Cost%20Drivers.pdf