The new health care reform law will prompt "some noteworthy changes" in Cornell's health plans, says Paul Bursic, director of Benefit Services.

"But we have only the barest outline of the actual changes," he said. "Several departments of the government need yet to issue clarifying regulations, carefully define terms and calculations and provide plan standards."

Cornell's endowed health plans and the New York State Health Insurance Plan (NYSHIP) for contract college employees are subject to all the provisions of the new law. "That does not mean the plans will all begin to look exactly alike over time," Bursic said, "but the new law does have certain standard benefit features all employers will need to adopt."

What will change in Cornell's health plan coverage in the next year? Dependent coverage for children under age 26 has been affected. Beginning Jan. 1, 2011, any child up to age 26 may be covered under a parent's health plan. Student status and single marital status are no longer required to keep health care coverage, although the spouse of a married child and any children in the child's family cannot be covered under the parent's health plan.

"That provision seems simple enough, but the IRS or the Department of Labor may add rules we cannot anticipate at this time," Bursic said. "Keep in touch with Benefits through our Web site or by calling 607-255-3936."

Also, certain insurance practices must be discontinued. However, these plan practices have not been used by either the endowed plans or the NYSHIP plans for contract college employees. Cornell health plans do not have a pre-existing condition limit on coverage or a cap on benefits payable in a given year or over a lifetime. Other employer plans that have these limitations must eliminate them in 2011.

The Community Living Assistance Services and Supports Act creates a new federal long-term care program that people will be able to join. Long-term care insurance pays a set amount to offset the cost of nursing home expenses or custodial care delivered in home. Cornell already offers such a plan for employees on a voluntary basis. This new federal plan will also be voluntary.

"We know very little about this program at this time," said Bursic, who added that before Benefit Services can answer any questions about it, the Department of Health and Human Services (and perhaps the IRS) will need to issue regulations on this program.

Many other changes at the national level are scheduled to take effect 2012 through 2020. Bursic said that the most far-reaching changes will come in 2014, when individuals will be required to have health insurance through their employers or health insurance exchanges created by each state. People who cannot afford health insurance will be given a federal subsidy of the amount they need to pay. By the end of 2014, up to 95 percent of Americans will have health insurance. "Health insurance will not be tied to your job, although employer plans are a permanent part of the whole health insurance coverage tapestry that will evolve in the coming years," Bursic said.