An overview of the ACA's many important provisions for employers and employees
Since the Affordable Care Act (ACA) was enacted in 2010, employers and health insurance issuers have had to make numerous changes to employer-sponsored group health plans offered to employees. If the ACA is repealed, many plan terms may no longer be required. These changes may be beneficial for employers, but could be confusing or, in some cases, unwelcome for employees.
Listed below are a number of ACA provisions that have a significant impact on employer-sponsored group health plans. Additional requirements apply to plans in the small group market, such as premium rating restrictions and the requirement to offer an essential health benefits package. Although it is unclear which, if any, of these provisions will be affected in the future (and to what degree), it is helpful for employers to be aware of the potential impact on their employer-sponsored coverage.
Prohibition on Lifetime and Annual Limits
The ACA prohibits health plans from imposing lifetime and annual limits on the dollar value of essential health benefits. “Essential health benefits” are a core set of items and services intended to reflect the scope of benefits covered by a typical employer. The ACA’s lifetime and annual limit restrictions ensure that coverage for essential health benefits may not be cut off once an enrollee reaches a certain dollar amount for a year or over his or her lifetime. However, plans may impose annual limits on specific covered benefits that are not essential health benefits.
Out-of-Pocket Maximum Limit
Under the ACA, non-grandfathered group health plans are subject to an annual limit on total enrollee cost-sharing for essential health benefits, known as an out-of-pocket maximum. For the 2017 plan year, out-of-pocket expenses may not exceed $7,150 for self-only coverage and $14,300 for family coverage. Once an enrollee reaches the out-of-pocket maximum for the year, he or she is not responsible for additional cost-sharing for essential health benefits for the remainder of the year.
Waiting Period Limit
The ACA prohibits group health plans and group health insurance issuers from applying any waiting period that exceeds 90 days. A “waiting period” is the period of time that must pass before coverage for an employee or dependent who is otherwise eligible to enroll in the plan becomes effective. This waiting period limit does not require an employer to offer coverage to any particular employee or class of employees, including part-time employees. It only prevents an otherwise eligible employee (or dependent) from having to wait more than 90 days before coverage under a group health plan becomes effective.
Prohibition on Pre-existing Condition Exclusions
Under the ACA, group health plans and health insurance issuers may not impose pre-existing condition exclusions on any covered individual, regardless of the individual’s age. A pre-existing condition exclusion is a limitation or exclusion of benefits related to a condition based on the fact that the condition was present before the individual’s date of enrollment in the employer’s plan. The prohibition on pre-existing condition exclusions is particularly helpful for individuals who lose employer-sponsored coverage (for example, due to a job loss or change), to ensure that coverage cannot be denied for an existing health condition once the individual enrolls in a new health plan.
Dependent Coverage to Age 26
The ACA requires group health plans and health insurance issuers that provide dependent coverage to children on their parents’ plans to make coverage available until the adult child reaches age 26. This provision does not require plans and issuers to offer dependent coverage at all. It only requires plans that otherwise offer dependent coverage to make that coverage available until the adult child reaches age 26. This requirement is intended to ensure that young adults have health insurance coverage until they can transition to their own health plan.
Preventive Care Coverage Requirement
The ACA requires non-grandfathered health plans to cover certain preventive health services (including additional preventive health services for women) without imposing cost-sharing requirements for the services. In general, this means that plans are required to cover services such as immunizations, annual checkups, and regular health and cancer screenings without charging a copayment or applying an annual deductible. For women, the ACA also requires coverage of additional services, such as well-women visits and contraceptives.
Prohibition on Rescissions
The ACA prohibits group health plans and health insurance issuers from rescinding coverage for covered individuals, except in the case of fraud or intentional misrepresentation of a material fact. A “rescission” is a cancellation or discontinuance of coverage that has a retroactive effect (such as one that treats a policy as void from the time of enrollment). When a coverage rescission occurs, the insurance company is no longer responsible for medical care claims that they had previously accepted and paid.
Patient Protections
The ACA imposes the following three “patient protection” requirements on group health plans related to the choice of a health care professional and requirements relating to benefits for emergency services:
⇔ Plans and issuers that require designation of a participating primary care provider must permit each participant, beneficiary and enrollee to designate any available participating primary care provider (including a pediatrician for children).
⇔ Plans and issuers that provide obstetrical/gynecological (OB/GYN) care and require a designation of a participating primary care provider may not require preauthorization or referral for OB/GYN care.
⇔ Plans and issuers that provide hospital emergency room benefits must provide those benefits without requiring prior authorization, and without regard to whether the provider is an in network provider.
Let Plexus lend a hand
The Affordable Care Act contains numerous provisions affecting many firms and employees. Should the law change, Plexus will provide the guidance your business needs to quickly and effectively adapt.
With the future of ACA in the headlines, don't hesitate to reach out to Plexus with any questions. Contact a client service team member at 847-307-6100 (Deer Park), 312-606-4800 (Chicago), 972-770-5010 (Dallas) or 405-840-3033 (Oklahoma City), or contact us via the Web.
Disclaimer and publishing credit: This ACA Compliance Bulletin is not intended to be exhaustive nor should any discussion or opinions be construed as legal advice. Readers should contact legal counsel for legal advice. © 2017 Zywave, Inc. All rights reserved.