Dear Valued Clients,
Our dedicated staff and I realize that the new health care reform policies can be confusing and hard to understand, especially when it comes to your specific health insurance needs. We want you to know that we are here to clarify any insurance questions that you may have regarding the new policies. We also want to give you a brief timeline of some insurance changes and explain how they may impact you, your family, your business and your future.
Within the next 90 days:
High-risk health insurance pools are currently being created for individuals with pre-existing conditions. Our goal is to make sure any person who wants health insurance is able to qualify for it. We will work with these individuals until they have an insurance plan that they are satisfied with. Because these new pools do accept individuals with any condition, premiums will be higher. However, the government does plan to partially subsidize these payments, and we will continue to work with you on obtaining an insurance policy that is the best fit for your specific needs.
By the end of 2010:
- Small businesses with less than 25 employees that contribute to over 50 percent of their employee-only premiums may be eligible for a tax credit from 2010 to 2013 for up to 35 percent of each employee's premium that you paid.
- There will no longer be lifetime maximums, so your policy can now pay an unlimited amount for any or all of your medical conditions.
- Children will no longer be denied for coverage due to a pre-existing condition.
- Dependent children can stay on their parent's plan until the age of 26.
- Preventative visits will now be 100 percent covered, without a co-pay or deductible charged for those services.
2011 and Beyond:
- If you are covered by Medicare and have reached your "donut hole" for prescriptions, you can now have your drugs filled at a 50 percent discount.
- Health Savings Account holders will no longer be reimbursed for non-medical expenses.
- Employers who implement a wellness program for their employees can receive funds to help continue the plan for up to 5 years.
This is just a brief outline of some major insurance changes that will be taking place between now and 2014. Of course, there are still changes being made to this new health care bill, and it may even have to go back to Congress to be voted on yet again. We want our customers to know that we are here to keep you up-to-date with these new policies and to make sure that you understand how reform will affect you, your family and your business. Our goal is to serve your best interests and to ensure that you have the best insurance policy to fit your needs, regardless of the changes to come.
Please feel free to contact me at Crosby Insurance Group for any further questions or concerns as health care insurance reform continues to develop. Thank you for being such a valued customer to the Crosby Insurance Group family, and we look forward to working through these new changes together.
Sincerely,
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| Rick Crosby, President and CEO |
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