Some union health plans could get break from health law's reinsurance fee

Nov 8 2013

Language included in a Health and Human Services regulation released last week indicated that some self-insured, self-administered plans would not have to pay this fee in 2015 or 2016. It is not entirely clear, however, which plans would qualify for this exemption.

The Associated Press/Washington Post: Some Union Insurance Plans Could Get Break From Fees Under New Health Care Law
Critics of the new health care law are claiming some labor unions could get a break from fees imposed on everyone covered by health insurance. The Obama administration's plan to exempt "certain self-insured, self-administered plans" from paying fees in 2015 and 2016 is not sitting well with Republicans, who say the move smacks of favoritism for a powerful White House ally. Labor officials say many unions won't be affected (11/7).

The Wall Street Journal: Health-Fee Proposal Knocked
The Obama administration is planning to exempt some labor unions and businesses from paying part of a contentious reinsurance fee under the health-overhaul law, but unions and businesses said Wednesday the move wouldn't go far enough. The Department of Health and Human Services signaled in a document published quietly last week that it intends to propose a partial break on the fee. But business officials said the vast majority of their insurance plans wouldn't qualify, and union officials said a large majority of theirs wouldn't either, based on the language from HHS (Radnofsky and Trottman, 11/6).

Earlier, related KHN coverage: Labor Unions May Get Health Law Tax Relief (Hancock, 11/6).