The text of H.R.3590, dubbed the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, may be viewed here and here.
Readers of this page will find the following exception to “TITLE I — QUALITY, AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE FOR ALL AMERICANS” of interest:
(B) EXCEPTION FOR SELF-INSURED PLANS AND MEWAS- Except to the extent specifically provided by this title, the term ‘health plan’ shall not include a group health plan or multiple employer welfare arrangement to the extent the plan or arrangement is not subject to State insurance regulation under section 514 of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974.
And then there is also the provision regarding “grandfathered plans” which reads as follows:
PART II–OTHER PROVISIONS
SEC. 1251. PRESERVATION OF RIGHT TO MAINTAIN EXISTING COVERAGE.
(a) No Changes to Existing Coverage-
(1) IN GENERAL- Nothing in this Act (or an amendment made by this Act) shall be construed to require that an individual terminate coverage under a group health plan or health insurance coverage in which such individual was enrolled on the date of enactment of this Act.
(2) CONTINUATION OF COVERAGE- With respect to a group health plan or health insurance coverage in which an individual was enrolled on the date of enactment of this Act, this subtitle and subtitle A (and the amendments made by such subtitles) shall not apply to such plan or coverage, regardless of whether the individual renews such coverage after such date of enactment.
(b) Allowance for Family Members To Join Current Coverage- With respect to a group health plan or health insurance coverage in which an individual was enrolled on the date of enactment of this Act and which is renewed after such date, family members of such individual shall be permitted to enroll in such plan or coverage if such enrollment is permitted under the terms of the plan in effect as of such date of enactment.
(c) Allowance for New Employees To Join Current Plan- A group health plan that provides coverage on the date of enactment of this Act may provide for the enrolling of new employees (and their families) in such plan, and this subtitle and subtitle A (and the amendments made by such subtitles) shall not apply with respect to such plan and such new employees (and their families).
(d) Effect on Collective Bargaining Agreements- In the case of health insurance coverage maintained pursuant to one or more collective bargaining agreements between employee representatives and one or more employers that was ratified before the date of enactment of this Act, the provisions of this subtitle and subtitle A (and the amendments made by such subtitles) shall not apply until the date on which the last of the collective bargaining agreements relating to the coverage terminates. Any coverage amendment made pursuant to a collective bargaining agreement relating to the coverage which amends the coverage solely to conform to any requirement added by this subtitle or subtitle A (or amendments) shall not be treated as a termination of such collective bargaining agreement.
(e) Definition- In this title, the term ‘grandfathered health plan’ means any group health plan or health insurance coverage to which this section applies.
And then there is the possibility of state waivers as provided in Section 1332(a), entitled: “WAIVER FOR STATE INNOVATION.”
(1) IN GENERAL- A State may apply to the Secretary for the waiver of all or any requirements described in paragraph (2) with respect to health insurance coverage within that State for plan years beginning on or after January 1, 2017 . . .
These various conditions are likely to create substantial controversy as the boundaries of the exceptions are worked out through judicial interpretation. Still undecided, of course, is the fate of the set of amendments proposed by the House which the Senate must consider. Add to that the imminent litigation over the constitutionality of the bill and it appears fair to say that it may be some time before employers can sort out their compliance burdens under the health care legislation.