Administrative Forms

Healthcare reform bill to have impact on conference health plans

This past week, Congress and President Obama enacted comprehensive federal health care reform – it is perhaps the most significant piece of social welfare legislation in nearly 50 years. During the next decade, it will substantially alter the manner in which millions of Americans receive health care coverage.

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act will have significant short-term and long-term impacts on the health plans of The United Methodist Church. The General Board of Pension and Health Benefits of The United Methodist Church has prepared an eight-page highlights and summary to give participants an overview of health care reform and its potential impact on your annual conference.

Within months, annual conferences, including Indiana, will need to adjust their health plans to meet the early requirements of the Act, including those pertaining to expanding dependent coverage and restricting lifetime and annual benefit limits. Conferences must consider the benefits of small-employer tax credits available to nonprofit organizations and a federal reinsurance fund for early retiree coverage.

The complete document is included in this form.