State Health Reform Proposals
Utah
The following is a summary of HB 188 that was passed
on March 10, 2009, and signed but the Governor on March 11, 2009.
To see the full text of this bill click
here.
The
bill creates a new health plan, called NetCare, that insurers will
be able to offer at one-half to one-third the cost of the average
large-group health insurance premium. The plan will be exempted from
certain state coverage mandates and will include wellness incentives,
higher deductibles and caps on preventive care. The measure also allows
small employers to give workers the choice of enrolling in an employer-sponsored
health plan or using an employer contribution to purchase coverage
on their own. Insurance companies would be required to cover workers
regardless of pre-existing health conditions, and the Utah Health
Re-Insurance Pool would provide assistance to insurers who experience
a spike in costly claims. In addition, the legislation allows employers
to offer NetCare rather than COBRA as an option for state residents
transitioning from group coverage to individual health plans.
