Frequently Asked Questions
As a service to our members and the community, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City (Blue KC) continues to analyze and evaluate the impact reform will have on us all. You can be confident that Blue KC is working hard to understand the complex reform legislation that was passed. We will continue to update this FAQ as we gain more clarity on the different reform elements. Thank you for your interest and please check back often.
Health Care Reform: Key Highlights
Since the President signed the reform legislation in late March, we have spent many hours analyzing the legislation and its potential impact on our members, employer groups, brokers and employees. Click here to view a detailed document of the many various elements of reform, and when they go into effect. We’ll continue to provide updates as we know them on this special health care reform section of our Web site.
Healthcare Reform Update
On Thursday, March 25, at approximately 2:10 p.m., the Senate passed the reconciliation proposal by a vote of 56 to 43. Three Democrats (Senators Blanche Lincoln (AR), Ben Nelson (NE) and Mark Pryor (AR)) voted against the proposal, which was then immediately sent back to the House for another vote. Another House vote was required because the Senate Parliamentarian ruled that two provisions (related to educational Pell Grants) violated the “Byrd” rule and must be removed from the bill. As expected, all GOP amendments during the debate were withdrawn, tabled or failed to pass (no Democratic amendments were offered).
At approximately 9:00 p.m., the House passed the proposal as changed by the Senate by a vote of 220 to 207. The measure will now be sent to the President for signing.
Important: Clarification From Congress Regarding Health Care Reform
Below are some of the key short-term provisions that will take effect immediately, under the legislative package the House passed on March 21, 2010. Implementation of these provisions are dependent upon passage of the reconciliation bill by the Senate. The reconciliation bill is based largely on the improvements put forward by the President’s proposal – moving towards the House bill in certain critical areas.
House Narrowly Approves Health Reform Bills
Following a very intense, passionate debate from both sides, the full House narrowly approved the Senate-passed healthcare reform bill by a vote of 219 to 212 at approximately 10:45 p.m. tonight. Thirty-four Democrats (Adler, Altmire, Arcuri, Barrow, Berry, Boren, Boucher, Bright, Chandler, Childers, Davis (AL), Davis (TN), Edwards (TX), Herseth Sandlin, Holden, Kissell, Kratovil, Lipinski, Lynch, Marshall, Matheson, McIntyre, McMahon, Melancon, Minnick, Nye, Peterson, Ross, Shuler, Skelton, Space, Tanner, Taylor, Teague) joined all Republicans in voting against the Senate bill, which will be sent immediately to President Obama to be signed into law in a ceremony expected on Tuesday.
The House also approved the reconciliation bill (as amended by yesterday’s Manager’s Amendment) containing “fixes” to the Senate-passed bill by a vote of 220 to 211. Thirty-three Democrats joined all Republicans in voting against the proposal.
President Obama’s Proposal Released
President Obama’s healthcare reform proposal, released this morning, is available in an 11-page summary. Key highlights from the President’s plan are:
Report Shows Proposed Senate Bill Would Increase Premium Costs
Blue KC wants to update you on today’s release of a new report (attached) the Association commissioned from Oliver Wyman, Inc. – “Impact of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act on Costs in the Individual and Small Employer Health Insurance Health Insurance Markets.” Similar to the previous Oliver Wyman report, this new analysis shows that the insurance reform provisions in the current Senate bill – including the weak individual mandate, tight age rating bands and minimum benefits higher than what many people are purchasing today would significantly increase premiums (54 percent in the individual market and 20 percent in the small group market) and make coverage unaffordable for millions of people.
The 3rd annual Health Summit, The Face of Health Care Tomorrow, was well attended and those assembled represented a powerful force of positive energy regarding health care reform. The keynote speaker, Senator Bob Dole, presented a bipartisan view with his characteristic wit and expressed the hopeful promise of what can be achieved by working together. For details on the information presented, summit summaries or communications materials, click on any of the links below.