What’s In the Latest Senate Bill?
A revised version of the Senate bill is out and GOP leaders are still struggling to gain consensus as they push for a vote next week. This Politico article outlines how the latest bill would change the ACA. While provisions directly affecting employers don’t appear to have changed from the original bill, there are some new provisions that would:
- Permit insurers offering ACA-compliant coverage on the individual exchange to offer non-ACA compliant coverage off exchange
- Allow use of HSA dollars to pay for health insurance premiums in the individual market
- Allow people over age 30 to buy catastrophic coverage in the individual market, including those receiving federal tax credits
- Increase funding to stabilize state insurance markets
- Provide an additional $45 billion to fight the opioid abuse epidemic
- Maintain the ACA’s net investment income tax, higher Medicare payroll tax, and $500,000 cap on the deductibility of health insurance executive pay
We’re reviewing the bill language and will blog about the impact on employer-sponsored plans in the coming days. You can expect to hear a lot more from Washington as we wait for the revised CBO score and Senate parliamentarian ruling on what provisions can’t be included under budget reconciliation rules. And, just to keep it interesting, there’s a wild card that bears watching: the “alternative plan” that Senators Graham and Cassidy are working on, just in case the revised BCRA still doesn’t fly.
Go to full article: www.politico.com