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Following a welcome from Chancellor Harold M. Maurer, M.D., a panel of medical center health care experts answered questions.
The panel was composed of:
- John Benson, M.D., professor of internal medicine;
- Rod Markin, M.D., Ph.D., executive associate dean of the College of Medicine and president of UNMC Physicians;
- Jo Watkins, UNMC benefits specialists;
- Tom Tape, M.D., professor of Internal Medicine;
- Tadd Pullin, The Nebraska Medical Center; and
- Mark Bowen, government relations director.
Below are some of the questions asked and answers provided during the forum, which was held in the Durham Research Center Auditorium (questions in bold).
What changes will be made to my UNMC benefit coverages?
The law requires group policies to include new benefits such as:
- Eliminating the lifetime limits on benefits;
- Insurers cannot deny coverage to children with pre-existing conditions; and
- Allowing children up to age 26 to remain on a parent’s policy.
What age does employee and “family” cover? Does it grandfather in the rule that allows children to remain on a parent’s plan up to a certain age if the children do have their own coverage?
Yes, dependent children will be eligible to remain in the parent’s policy until the age of 26 if the children do not have access to group insurance through their own employers. Final regulations have not been issued, but it is likely that the opportunity will be available during the annual enrollment in the Fall.
Is the plan of health care leaders and lawmakers to analyze and choose the most successful test program, such as Healthcare Innovation Zones to implement on national scale?
Yes, the pilot programs and demonstration programs are designed as multiyear projects to test the efficiency and quality of the delivery models. It appears the federal government will likely advance successful programs and that will be finalized in future legislation.