Washington
Even if the provisions in health care reform legislation that concern the insurance industry and risk managers the most are passed, they would not go into effect for four years, until 2013, documents released by House committees working on the legislation reveal.
In fact, the proposed legislation would delay implementation of the employer mandate until 2018.
A timeline provided by the House Ways and Means Committee indicate the delayed provisions include:
o Creation of a health insurance exchange (an issue that concerns agents).
o Reforms banning insurers from "engaging in discriminatory practices" (including refusing to cover, cancelling policies or overcharging those with preexisting conditions).
o Creation of a "public option" plan.
o A mandate on employers and individuals to buy coverage or pay a penalty.
All of these provisions were included in the version of the legislation being debated last week by three House committees–Energy and Commerce, Ways and Means, and Education and Labor–but will not take effect until at least 2013.
Industry officials are encouraged by the fact that concerns about some of the controversial provisions by conservative or so-called "Blue Dog" Democrats have forced the House to delay action on the legislation until after it returns from its summer recess on Sept. 8.
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