How Do We Fix Healthcare?

As someone who makes his living in the healthcare and health insurance industries (for nearly 30 years), I am often asked the question – “how can we fix what is broken in our healthcare system, and assure that every citizen has access to care”?  More recently, I get the question – “do you believe the Affordable Care Act (ACA) will be successful? 

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Madison Avenue Meets the ACA?!

The title of this entry says it all..."Madison Avenue meets the Affordable Care Act (ACA)".  It was announced today (7/25/2013) that the White House has authorized spending $684 million on a massive, national "publicity, marketing, and advertising" campaign to help promote and educate on the ACA.  According to recent surveys, more than three quarters of the uninsured population (the veritable targets of the ACA) know little to nothing about the law. 




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What Was NOT Delayed in the ACA

Two recent blog posts informed of a one-year delay in implementing two parts of the Affordable Care Act’s so called employer mandate - the reporting requirements and the associated “pay-or-play” penalties. Last week, the Treasury Department issued official guidance (in the form of Notice 2013-45) that clarifies the delay. Here are a few key points and implications extracted from the guidance:

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More on "Employer Mandate Delayed!"

Now that the dust has somewhat settled on last week's exciting (and interestingly timed) announcement delaying the Affordable Care Act's so called "employer mandate" (see also "pay or play"; and "employer shared responsibility), let's examine some of the fallout.

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Supreme Court Ruling on DOMA – What It Means for Employers

On June 26, 2013, the U.S. Supreme Court announced its decision regarding the constitutionality of the federal Defense of Marriage Act of 1996 (DOMA). The Court struck down Section 3 of DOMA, which limited marriage to opposite sex unions for purposes of federal law.

In a 5-4 decision, the court found this definition to be a violation of equal protection rights under the U.S. Constitution, holding that same-sex couples who are legally married under state law will be entitled to equal treatment under federal law with regard to income taxes and federal benefits. However, the Court’s ruling does not establish a constitutional right to same-sex marriage.

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***SPECIAL EDITION*** ACA EMPLOYER MANDATE DELAYED

Late this afternoon (7/2/2013), the Obama administration announced that it is DELAYING THE EMPLOYER MANDATE (also known as "employer shared responsibility" and "pay or play") until 2015. In turn, the Treasury Department announced that - "it would delay its enforcement an entire year after hearing numerous concerns from employers about the challenges of its implementation". Specifically, the assistant secretary for tax policy - Mark Mazur - said - "We have heard concerns about the complexity of the requirements and the need for more time to implement them effectively. We recognize that the vast majority of businesses that will need to do this reporting already provide health insurance to their workers, and we want to make sure it is easy for others to do so. We have listened to your feedback. And we are taking action".


The Treasury department will issue final guidance later this summer. So...for now...we can focus on other challenges and opportunities!

Have a great 4th of July!