During state budget surgery Republicans in the Ohio Senate eliminated several health insurance reforms backed by Gov. Ted Strickland when they passed their version of the state budget for fiscal 2010 and 2011.
Here are some of the proposals that were cut:
- Expanding dependent child coverage in group insurance plans to age 29.
- In open enrollment programs for individual insurance, reducing rates insurers charge people with pre-existing conditions.
- Requiring employers to offer uninsured workers the opportunity to buy coverage with pretax dollars through Section 125 cafeteria plans.
- Extending continuation coverage in Ohio’s “mini-COBRA” program to 12 months from six months so employees who lose their jobs at businesses with fewer than 20 employees can maintain health coverage.
- Funding health information technology and other health-care quality initiatives.
- Requiring insurers to file loss ratio data for the individual, small group and large group insurance markets
Source: Ohio Department of Insurance
Philosophical objections, reform effort in D.C. slow Strickland's health-care agenda - Business First of Columbus. (excerpted, full article subscription only)
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