Health care reform has so many provisions it has been difficult to keep track of all of them. But one we have been watching closely has been the issue of annual limits. While it has been clear that lifetime limits are going away, annual limits remain an issue for many, especially for those patients with chronic illnesses such as hemophilia.
Yesterday President Obama released a fact sheet: The Affordable Care Acts New Patient Bill of Rights. Included in this is a phase out plan of Annual Limits.
Beginning September 23, 2010, health plans will be allowed to set limits no lower than $750,000. In 2011 the minimum limit will be raised to $1.25 million. In 2012, the amount increases to 2 million and in 2014 annual limits will vanish!
This is great news for all, but my question is, why is it so complicated? What will those individuals who reach their annual limit do in the years before 2014? How will they be able to pay ? It seems to make more sense to eliminate both Annual and Lifetime caps now. What are your thoughts?
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
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This is a great achievement for Obama. Perhaps the phase out was something he had to give up to help pacify the kicking and screaming insurance companies so that this isn't tied up in court forever.
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