Action pending on 19 national health care bills

Andrea Croley is co-owner of Croley Insurance and Financial Services.

Congress is currently debating several health care bills that may affect the way that health insurance is sold. As an insurance agent belonging to the National Association of Health Underwriters and a member of the health care industry in this region, it is my duty to promote public awareness on these issues with the goal of ensuring dependable and affordable health insurance.

There are 18 bills pending before Congress and one that has already been sent to President Bush's desk. Here's a look at a few of them as of Dec. 1.

Medicare Prescription Drug and Modernization Act of 2003 Recently passed by the House and the Senate, this act is pending approval from Bush. This act creates a prescription drug benefit for Medicare beneficiaries and makes comprehensive reforms to the program. It also allows beneficiaries to participate in a program that provides more comprehensive coverage.

Greater Access to Affordable Pharmaceuticals Act It prohibits an extension of the 30-month patent stay for FDA approved name-brand drugs in order to bring generic pharmaceuticals to market faster.

Prescription Drug and Medicare Improvement Act of 2003 It creates a prescription drug benefit for Medicare beneficiaries and additional private purchasing options for health care coverage. The act allows beneficiaries to choose whether to remain in traditional fee-for-service Medicare or participate in another newly created program that would provide more comprehensive benefits.

Long-Term Care and Retirement Security Act of 2003 It creates an above-the-line federal income tax deduction for LTCI premiums, allows long-term care insurance to be offered through cafeteria plans and provides a $3,000 tax credit to caregivers.

An act to permit states to enter into long-term care partnerships under the Medicaid program to promote the use of long-term care insurance This removes the federal impediment enacted under the Omnibus Budget and Reconciliation Act of 1993 and allows states to move forward with partnership programs.

Health Insurance Certificate Act of 2003 It creates subsidies for low-income and low- and middle-income families to purchase health insurance.

Fair Care for the Uninsured Act of 2003 It provides a refundable tax credit of up to $1,000 for individuals and $3,000 for families without access to employer-sponsored health care coverage. Its provisions require states to implement high-risk pools for medically uninsurable individuals.

Securing Access, Value and Equality in Health Care Act It creates a health care tax credit for individuals with incomes up to $65,000 and families with incomes up to $105,000 to use toward the purchase of health insurance.

Help Efficient, Low-Cost, Timely Health Care Act It creates a $250,000 cap on noneconomic damages and statute of limitations for medical malpractice claims, and limits punitive damages to a maximum of $250,000.

Health Flexible Spending Account Enhancement Act It allows up to $500 from flexible spending accounts to roll over to the following year.

Genetic Information Nondiscrimina-tion Act It prohibits discrimination in health insurance and employment based on genetics.

The 108th Congress will be in session until the end of 2004 and will continue deciding on these items for health care legislation during that time. For further information and releases on bills, you can visit http://thomas.loc.gov.