Health Care Reform
Health Care Reform Provides Needed Relief to Washington State
Throughout the health care reform debate, we advocated for comprehensive health care reform and for additional funding to help states contend with rising demand for programs and decreasing revenues. Landmark health care reform legislation was signed into law in March 2010. Reforms will take place over the next four years, but we expect Washington State to benefit this year with the receipt of federal Medicaid funding to help shore up the Basic Health and General Assistance-Unemployable programs. The following populations will benefit from reforms in 2010:
- Seniors – Closing the Medicare “donut” hole will be phased-in between now and 2020. This year, Medicare beneficiaries who reach the coverage gap will receive a $250 rebate.
- Small business employees – Tax credits will be provided to small employers with fewer than 25 employees and average annual wages of less than $50,000 that provide health insurance for employees. The tax credit will be 35% of the employer’s contribution toward health insurance if certain conditions are met.
- Children and young adults – Beginning September 1, health insurance coverage is made available to unmarried dependents up to the age of 26 and children cannot be denied coverage or treatment due to pre-existing conditions.
- Individuals with pre-existing conditions – By July, federal funding will be added to the state’s high risk pool to lower costs for people with pre-existing conditions to purchase coverage.
Click here for a summary of our priorities for health care reform and their outcomes.
