Health Insurance

Proposed Settlement Could Expand Medicare Coverage
November 1, 2012 no comments in Elder Law, General Information, Health Insurance by

Proposed Settlement Could Expand Medicare Coverage

 A proposed class-action settlement may help tens of thousands of people with chronic conditions and disabilities qualify for Medicare coverage.

 Presently, Medicare guidelines indicate that coverage should be denied if a patient reaches a plateau and is not improving.  As a result, if a patient suffering from a chronic condition could not demonstrate a likelihood of medical or functional improvement, Medicare would not pay for home health care, skilled nursing home stays, or outpatient therapy.  Since many families could not afford these services out-of-pocket, many patients ultimately did not receive the recommended treatment.

 Under the proposed settlement, Medicare will pay for those services needed to “maintain the patient’s current condition or prevent or slow further deterioration,” regardless of whether the patient’s condition is likely to improve.  The focus would be on the patient’s need for skilled care, rather than his or her potential for improvement. 

 The proposed settlement was submitted on October 16, 2012 to the Federal District Court in Vermont.  If approved, it is expected that the court will takes several months to finalize the settlement, and that Medicare will take an additional year to formally implement the policy change.

Health Reform for Americans with Disabilities
May 21, 2010 no comments in Elder Law, Health Insurance, Supplemental Needs Trust Planning by

On March 23, 2010 President Obama signed the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act into law, as amended by the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 (“Health Care Reform”).  Here are some highlights of the Health Care Reform legislation intended to provide greater access to health insurance coverage for individuals with disabilities. 

  • Health Care Reform legislation provides for a new, voluntary self-insured program to help families pay for community based supportive services if a family member develops a disability.   The Community Living Assistance Services and Support program (CLASS Act) is not intended to replace private long term care insurance or Medicaid, but is meant to provide a supplemental monthly cash payment to help defray the cost of non-medical services, such as home health care, assistive technology, or adult day care.

    Working adults will be able to make voluntary premium contributions either directly or through payroll deductions.  Your employer will automatically enroll you in the program, unless you opt out.  To be eligible for benefits, an adult would need to pay premiums for at least five years and have been employed during three of those five year.

    The CLASS program is effective on January 1, 2011, but payout of CLASS benefits will not take effect until 2017, leaving many people with disabilities and seniors without affordable options to finance long-term care in the short run.

  • Creates more options for the States to provide Medicaid funded home and community based services to enable more people with disabilities to access long-term services in a setting they choose. 
  • Makes improvements to the Medicaid Home and Community Based Services Option. 
  • For 2010, prohibits insurance companies from denying coverage to children based on pre-existing conditions.  Next year, insurance companies will be prohibited from denying coverage or charging more to an individual based on medical history. 
  • Provides access to health insurance through Exchanges to those without job-related coverage and premium tax credits to those who cannot afford coverage.
New Tax Planning Option if in the Market for Long Term Care Insurance
May 10, 2010 no comments in Elder Law, Estate Planning, Health Insurance by

Two important changes regarding Long Term Care Insurance have come into effect. Starting January 1, 2010: (a) Distributions from non-qualified annuities and life insurance which have a long-term care insurance rider are tax-free when used to pay long-term care costs; and (b) non-qualified annuities and life insurance can be exchanged tax-free via a so-called “1034 exchange” for a tax advantaged long-term care insurance policy.   There are a number of technical requirements that must be met to achieve the tax-free exchange status and as with any investment, exchanges may not be right for everyone.

Young Adult Dependent Coverage Law
February 12, 2010 no comments in Health Insurance by

On June 1, 2009, Illinois’ new Young Adult Dependent Coverage Law (215 ILCS 356z.12) gives parents with health and/or dental insurance policies that cover dependents the right to add or continue coverage for unmarried dependents under age 26 (or 30 for some U.S. military veterans) regardless of student status.

This is in addition to an Illinois law, 215 ILCS 356z.14, that went into effect on December 12, 2008, that requires all individual and group health insurance policies and HMO contracts to provide coverage up to an annual limit of $36,000 for the diagnosis and treatment of autism spectrum disorders for children under 21.

See www.insurance.illinois.gov for more details on both laws.