Healthcare Bill + the CP!

[mollay]

I know a lot of people were concerned about losing their health insurance if they did the CP, but are we safe now that this new healthcare bill has passed?

One of the provisions is that children can remain on their parents' healthcare til the age 26. Of course, the provisions may not go into effect early enough for some CPers, but does it seem like we will all eventually be in the clear?

 

[SportsChick]

From what I've read, that won't be into effect until 2014

 

[kmg148]

I thought CNN said it would take place in 6 months, and people could be put back on parents' policies if they are dropped within the next couple months (or have been dropped already.) The changes regarding extra monthly taxes if you don't have health insurance wouldn't take place until 2014. I could be wrong.

 

[WDW_lover_in_SC]

I thought CNN said it would take place in 6 months, and people could be put back on parents' policies if they are dropped within the next couple months (or have been dropped already.) The changes regarding extra monthly taxes if you don't have health insurance wouldn't take place until 2014. I could be wrong.

No from my understanding of it everyone has to pay taxes on it without the benefits until 2014.

 

[mollay]

From what I've read, that won't be into effect until 2014

Hm hm okay. Where I was getting my info from, the only provisions that wouldn't be in effect til 2014 were:

A mandate will require that most Americans have health insurance. Low-income people would be exempt from the mandate.
Small businesses, the self-employed and the uninsured could purchase insurance from new state-based purchasing pools called exchanges.
Adults cannot be denied coverage based on pre-existing conditions.

and the rest would be in effect by the end of the year.

But I guess we'll just see soon enough!

 

[syvmom]

I thought CNN said it would take place in 6 months, and people could be put back on parents' policies if they are dropped within the next couple months (or have been dropped already.) The changes regarding extra monthly taxes if you don't have health insurance wouldn't take place until 2014. I could be wrong.

Yes...that is correct. The dependent coverage is one of the items that is scheduled to take place within 6 months.

 

[Ariel864]

You can also check with your insurance company to see what they are doing about it. I know mine already told me they are continuing till 26.

 

[ZeroToHero]

Mine is also up to 26 - Massachusetts already had reformed health care in 2007, and that was one of the things. I'm glad that it's going to be nationwide now! This helps solve a lot of problems on here (although I know that we're just a very small portion of who will be affected, it's nice to know we don't have to worry about it anymore.)

So that will take effect for the Spring 2011 people, right? And partway through the Fall as well, I suppose.

 

[allison_wonderland88]

I'm seriously relieved to know that I'll have health insurance since I'm graduating college in May! Under the old system, because I wouldn't be a full-time student I'd be dropped but the new bill has me covered!!!!

'cuz lets face it, prescriptions are NOT affordable without insurance.

 

[glendalais]

Also, just to note.

At this time, there will be no changes in benefits for Disney Internships & Programs Participants as a result of this law. Florida-Site Participants will continue to be ineligible for Company health benefits. California-Site Participants will be eligible for health benefits on the same basis as offered to Casual Regular Cast Members.

Now, it might change going forward. But nothing's been announced so far.

 

[mollay]

Also, just to note.

At this time, there will be no changes in benefits for Disney Internships & Programs Participants as a result of this law. Florida-Site Participants will continue to be ineligible for Company health benefits. California-Site Participants will be eligible for health benefits on the same basis as offered to Casual Regular Cast Members.

Now, it might change going forward. But nothing's been announced so far.

Okay, just to be sure, because I'm the first to admit I'm no expert when it comes to this new Bill, or Healthcare in general

CPs never got any sort of benefits from Disney in the first place, which is why remaining on our parents' insurance was always a big issue (since sometimes you are no longer recognised as a full-time student and that affects many people's insurance) -- but this new bill will guarantee that you remain under your parents' insurance til age 26? Maybe I'd be better suited to ask my mom exactly what our family's plan is.

But from what I understand, even without this new bill being passed, I wasn't going to expect any benefits from Disney while on the CP to begin with. Is that correct?

 

[glendalais]

But from what I understand, even without this new bill being passed, I wasn't going to expect any benefits from Disney while on the CP to begin with. Is that correct?

If you're going to do a DCP or other DI&P Program in Florida, then yes. Nothing will be changing in that regard for the moment.

If you are doing a Program in California, you will be eligible to receive a limited-benefit Health Insurance package from the Company. This is in accordance with our Collective Bargaining Agreements at the Disneyland Resort. As such, it's unlikely to change in the near-future as well.

 

[syvmom]

I learned something interesting today from our HR office. Apparently more than 50% of companies are "self-insured" rather than "fully insured", and will therefore not be covered by the new provisions. The way she explained it to me was that even though we have deductions taken out of each check for our insurance, they don't actually pay premiums with that money but rather put it into a trust account from which all health insurance claims are paid. United Healthcare (which I considered to be my insurer) is actually just the administrator of the trust account. Hopefully I haven't completely butchered that explanation.

She did state that they may go ahead and voluntarily make the changes, but that they are not bound by anything in the bill.

It's certainly given me something to research.

 

[Yongo10]

This is a provocative question and something to think about as well as consider! It's crazy how this is something to consider now.

Thanks for bringing it up!

 

[tink774]

We do our health insurance through my mom's job, and the plan automatically dropped me at age 22 whether I was in school or not. So now I'm already on my own plan. We are trying to figure out how or if this will effect me in the next few months. I read that there are regulations on the under-26 policy, but I'm pretty confused on them.

 

[belleatheart]

I think your best bet is to just call your insurance company

 

[syvmom]

We do our health insurance through my mom's job, and the plan automatically dropped me at age 22 whether I was in school or not. So now I'm already on my own plan. We are trying to figure out how or if this will effect me in the next few months. I read that there are regulations on the under-26 policy, but I'm pretty confused on them.

As I understand it, your mom's carrier will be required to let you add back on UNLESS you are eligible for insurance through your employer. If that is the case, whether you take your employer's insurance or not, your mom's carrier is not required to cover you.

As I said before though, this doesn't apply if your mom's employer uses a self-insured plan and apparently many employers have gone that route.

 

[tink774]

As I understand it, your mom's carrier will be required to let you add back on UNLESS you are eligible for insurance through your employer. If that is the case, whether you take your employer's insurance or not, your mom's carrier is not required to cover you.

As I said before though, this doesn't apply if your mom's employer uses a self-insured plan and apparently many employers have gone that route.

My mom's insurance plan is through the military and since she just took the job a few months ago, we're still very unfamiliar with it. I was only on it for two months before I was dropped (with the old plan I was covered until 23 as a student). And I've been unemployed for a year, so my health insurance isn't done through my employer. I'm on the Blue Cross Blue Shield Tonik plan right now. So we're going to do some research and find out whether or not the changes will have anything to do with me over the next few days. If they don't, then at least I have insurance already unlike some unfortunate people my age!

 

[TinkStitch]

I learned something interesting today from our HR office. Apparently more than 50% of companies are "self-insured" rather than "fully insured", and will therefore not be covered by the new provisions. The way she explained it to me was that even though we have deductions taken out of each check for our insurance, they don't actually pay premiums with that money but rather put it into a trust account from which all health insurance claims are paid. United Healthcare (which I considered to be my insurer) is actually just the administrator of the trust account. Hopefully I haven't completely butchered that explanation.

She did state that they may go ahead and voluntarily make the changes, but that they are not bound by anything in the bill.

It's certainly given me something to research.

I found that out about my parents' insurance too. Right now my dad has the primary insurance, but his company self-insures & uses United as well. That means I would lose coverage for the CP. My mom's work also offers insurance through United, but they are fully insured, so if I get accepted, my family is going to switch insurances so I can stay covered & my 23 year old sister can go back on the insurance, which she lost when she graduated 2 years ago.

 

[Melinda22]

My mom's insurance plan is through the military and since she just took the job a few months ago, we're still very unfamiliar with it. I was only on it for two months before I was dropped (with the old plan I was covered until 23 as a student). And I've been unemployed for a year, so my health insurance isn't done through my employer. I'm on the Blue Cross Blue Shield Tonik plan right now. So we're going to do some research and find out whether or not the changes will have anything to do with me over the next few days. If they don't, then at least I have insurance already unlike some unfortunate people my age!

If your mom works for the military, does she have Tricare?

From my understanding, a lot of the new healthcare bill does not apply to Tricare. Which means that Tricare still drops unmarried students at 23, and unmarried non-students at 21. Here is a link to an article that talks about it. Your best bet is to call Tricare though, if that is who she is insured with.