function timeline_content() {
return '{"2010":{"1":{"date":"March 23, 2010","provision":"Small group tax credit, effective for tax years beginning after December 31, 2009","blurb":"Effective for calendar year 2010, this tax credit is designed to encourage small businesses to offer health care coverage for the first time or to help them maintain the coverage they already have. In 2010, the maximum credit is 35% of employer-paid premiums. For tax-exempt organizations, the maximum is 25% of employer-paid premiums. In 2014, the maximum increases to 50% of employer-paid premiums. For tax-exempt organizations, it increases to 35% of employer-paid premiums. To qualify for the credit, a group must employ not more than 25 employees, and the average annual compensation of those employees cannot exceed $50,000.","entry_id":"366","tools":{"Tax Calculator":"\/healthcarereform\/healthcare.php"},"library":{"HCR Brochure: Plan changes, Coverage rules, Benefit subsidies":"\/healthcarereform\/assets\/library\/237.pdf","HCR Brochure: HCR brochure, tax calculator and re-enrollment rights":"\/healthcarereform\/assets\/library\/234.pdf","HCR Update: MyAnthem News, Fall 2010 going to employers":"\/healthcarereform\/assets\/library\/257.pdf","HCR Update: Small business tax credit":"\/healthcarereform\/assets\/library\/98.pdf"}},"2":{"date":"June 29, 2010","provision":"Early retiree reinsurance program","blurb":"Early retiree reinsurance program: $5 billion has been set aside to help employers continue to provide coverage to certain retirees. The employer can be reimbursed up to 80% for an early retiree claim, between $15,000 and $90,000. The proceeds will help lower health care costs (such as premium contributions, copays and deductibles) for enrollees. Self-funded and fully insured groups are eligible. This is a temporary program, ending in 2014 or when the funds are exhausted -- whichever comes first.","entry_id":"367","tools":[],"library":{"HCR E-zine: My Healthy Business News, Fall 2010":"\/healthcarereform\/assets\/library\/2691.pdf","HCR E-zine: MyAnthem News, Fall 2010":"\/healthcarereform\/assets\/library\/273.pdf","HCR Update: Early Retiree Reinsurance Program, Grandfathering tool, Healthcare cost":"\/healthcarereform\/assets\/library\/240.pdf","HCR Update: Early Retirees, Mental Health Parity":"\/healthcarereform\/assets\/library\/149.pdf"}},"3":{"date":"July 1, 2010","provision":"Temporary high-risk pool for individuals with pre-existing conditions","blurb":"","entry_id":"368","tools":[],"library":{"HCR Update: Patient Protection, Preventive Care and Preexisting Conditions":"\/healthcarereform\/assets\/library\/15.pdf"}},"4":{"date":"September 23, 2010","provision":"Dependent coverage for adult children up to age 26","blurb":"","entry_id":"369","tools":[],"library":{"HCR Q&A: Dependent coverage extension":"\/healthcarereform\/assets\/library\/101.pdf","HCR Update: Dependent coverage extension":"\/healthcarereform\/assets\/library\/5.pdf","HCR Update: Preventive care, Dependent age limit, Nondiscrimination provision":"\/healthcarereform\/assets\/library\/278.pdf","HCR Update: Grandfathering":"\/healthcarereform\/assets\/library\/1771.pdf","HCR Update: Preventative care, Dependent age limit, Nondiscrimination provision":"\/healthcarereform\/assets\/library\/282.pdf"}},"5":{"date":"September 23, 2010","provision":"No lifetime coverage limits","blurb":"","entry_id":"370","tools":[],"library":{"HCR Update: Health care spending accounts, Annual limits waiver":"\/healthcarereform\/assets\/library\/288.pdf"}},"6":{"date":"September 23, 2010","provision":"100% coverage for preventive services in network","blurb":"","entry_id":"371","tools":[],"library":{"HCR Update: Health care spending accounts, Annual limits waiver":"\/healthcarereform\/assets\/library\/288.pdf","HCR Update: Preventive care flier, health care spending accounts, Annual limits waiver":"\/healthcarereform\/assets\/library\/287.pdf","HCR Update: Preventive care, Dependent age limit, Nondiscrimination provision":"\/healthcarereform\/assets\/library\/278.pdf","HCR Update: Grandfathering":"\/healthcarereform\/assets\/library\/1771.pdf"}},"7":{"date":"September 23, 2010","provision":"No annual limits on certain types of benefits","blurb":"","entry_id":"372","tools":[],"library":{"HCR Update: Preventive care flier, health care spending accounts, Annual limits waiver":"\/healthcarereform\/assets\/library\/287.pdf","HCR Update: Health care spending accounts, Annual limits waiver":"\/healthcarereform\/assets\/library\/289.pdf","HCR Update: Patient Protection including pre-existing conditions, rescission and limits":"\/healthcarereform\/assets\/library\/16.pdf"}},"8":{"date":"September 23, 2010","provision":"No prior authorization for emergency services or higher cost-sharing for out-of-network emergency services","blurb":"","entry_id":"374","tools":[],"library":[]},"9":{"date":"September 23, 2010","provision":"No pre-existing condition exclusions for children","blurb":"","entry_id":"375","tools":[],"library":{"HCR Update: Patient Protection including pre-existing conditions, rescission and limits":"\/healthcarereform\/assets\/library\/16.pdf"}},"10":{"date":"March 23, 2010","provision":"Grandfathered plans","blurb":"If an employer keeps the same coverage it had on March 23, 2010 -- the date the law took effect -- the plan may be considered a "grandfathered" plan. This means the plan may be exempt from some of the requirements of the health care reform law. However, certain changes must be made to all plans, whether they're grandfathered or not.","entry_id":"376","tools":{"Grandfathering Tool":"\/healthcarereform\/index.php\/tools\/grandfather"},"library":{"HCR E-zine: My Healthy Business News, Fall 2010":"\/healthcarereform\/assets\/library\/2691.pdf","HCR E-zine: MyAnthem News, Fall 2010":"\/healthcarereform\/assets\/library\/2671.pdf","HCR Update: MyAnthem News, Fall 2010 going to employers":"\/healthcarereform\/assets\/library\/257.pdf","HCR Update: Early Retiree Reinsurance Program, Grandfathering tool, Healthcare cost":"\/healthcarereform\/assets\/library\/244.pdf"}},"11":{"date":"October 1, 2010","provision":"Small employer grants for wellness programs for Fiscal Year 2011","blurb":"Small group employers that establish wellness programs can receive grants for up to five years. This is effective for Fiscal Years 2011 to 2015, so it technically starts in 2010.","entry_id":"381","tools":[],"library":[]},"highlights":{"1":"Small group tax credit, effective for tax years beginning after December 31, 2009","2":"Grandfathered plans"}},"2011":{"1":{"date":"January 1, 2011","provision":"No pre-tax reimbursements from health account for non-prescribed, over-the-counter medications","blurb":"Account holders will stop receiving pre-tax reimbursements from their FSA, HRA or HSA for non-prescribed, over-the-counter medications.","entry_id":"377","tools":[],"library":{"HCR Update: Preventive care, Dependent age limit, Nondiscrimination provision":"\/healthcarereform\/assets\/library\/278.pdf"}},"2":{"date":"January 1, 2011","provision":"20% tax for nonqualified HSA withdrawals","blurb":"The excise tax for nonqualified HSA withdrawals will increase from 10% to 20%.","entry_id":"378","tools":[],"library":{"HCR Update: Preventive care, Dependent age limit, Nondiscrimination provision":"\/healthcarereform\/assets\/library\/278.pdf"}},"3":{"date":"January 1, 2011","provision":"Reporting the value of employer-sponsored coverage on W-2s","blurb":"Employers must start reporting the value of the employer-sponsored coverage on their employees' W-2s. However, employees are not taxed on this amount. This reporting requirement is voluntary in 2011, and becomes mandatory in 2012.","entry_id":"379","tools":[],"library":{"HCR Update: Preventive care, Dependent age limit, Nondiscrimination provision":"\/healthcarereform\/assets\/library\/278.pdf","HCR Brochures: Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act":"\/healthcarereform\/assets\/library\/88.pdf"}},"4":{"date":"January 1, 2011","provision":"Automatic enrollment in new long-term care program. with ability for employees to opt out","blurb":"Employers will automatically enroll employees into the Community Living Assistance Services and Supports long-term care program. Employees may opt out. More guidance to come.","entry_id":"380","tools":[],"library":{"HCR Update: Preventive care, Dependent age limit, Nondiscrimination provision":"\/healthcarereform\/assets\/library\/278.pdf","HCR Brochures: Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act":"\/healthcarereform\/assets\/library\/88.pdf"}},"highlights":{"1":"Reporting the value of employer-sponsored coverage on W-2s","2":"Automatic enrollment in new long-term care program. with ability for employees to opt out"}},"2012":{"1":{"date":"January 1, 2012","provision":"Summary of benefits and coverage (formerly uniform explanation of coverage)","blurb":"Requires health insurers, self-funded health plan sponsors and plan administrators to follow uniform standards when providing group and individual plan applicants, enrollees and policy\/certificate holders with a summary of benefits and coverage. Also requires a uniform glossary of common health care and insurance terms be provided.","entry_id":"382","tools":[],"library":{"HCR Brochures: Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act":"\/healthcarereform\/assets\/library\/88.pdf"}},"2":{"date":"January 1, 2012","provision":"Pre-enrollment document sent explaining benefits and exclusions","blurb":"Part of the Summary of Benefits and Coverage provision, pre-enrollment materials must be provided to Individual applicants shopping for coverage on the benefits and exclusions of various plan offerings.","entry_id":"383","tools":[],"library":{"HCR Brochures: Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act":"\/healthcarereform\/assets\/library\/88.pdf"}},"3":{"date":"January 1, 2012","provision":"60-day notice for material modifications, if not provided in uniform explanation of coverage","blurb":"Requires plan sponsors or issuers to provide 60 days advance notice to enrollees when making material modifications to the plan outside of the regular renewal process.","entry_id":"384","tools":[],"library":{"HCR Brochures: Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act":"\/healthcarereform\/assets\/library\/88.pdf"}},"highlights":{"1":"Summary of benefits and coverage (formerly uniform explanation of coverage)"}},"2013":{"1":{"date":"January 1, 2013","provision":"Employee notification of exchanges, premium subsidies and free choice vouchers","blurb":"Employers will need to start telling employees about exchanges, premium subsidies and free choice vouchers.","entry_id":"385","tools":[],"library":{"HCR Brochures: Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act":"\/healthcarereform\/assets\/library\/88.pdf"}},"2":{"date":"January 1, 2013","provision":"FSA contributions limited to $2,500 per year","blurb":"Employee contributions for FSAs will be capped at $2,500 annually, with the cap adjusted annually to the Consumer Price Index.","entry_id":"386","tools":[],"library":{"HCR Brochures: Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act":"\/healthcarereform\/assets\/library\/88.pdf"}},"3":{"date":"October 1, 2013","provision":"Fee for comparative effectiveness research agency for Fiscal Year 2013","blurb":"Employers with self-funded health care plans will start paying a fee to fund a comparative effectiveness research agency. If the health care plan is fully insured, the health insurer will be assessed this fee. This charge will be $1 times the average number of covered lives. In 2014, it will be $2 times the average number of covered lives. The fee ends on September 30, 2019. This is based on Fiscal Year 2013, which starts in 2012.","entry_id":"387","tools":[],"library":{"HCR Brochures: Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act":"\/healthcarereform\/assets\/library\/88.pdf"}},"highlights":{"1":"Employee notification of exchanges, premium subsidies and free choice vouchers","2":"FSA contributions limited to $2,500 per year"}},"2014":{"1":{"date":"January 1, 2014","provision":"Individual mandate","blurb":"","entry_id":"388","tools":[],"library":{"HCR Brochures: Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act":"\/healthcarereform\/assets\/library\/88.pdf"}},"2":{"date":"January 1, 2014","provision":"State-based exchanges for individuals and small groups","blurb":"There will be separate state-based exchanges for individuals (American Health Benefit Exchanges) and for small groups (Small Business Health Options Program or SHOP). At this time, small group employer tax credits will only be available through the exchange.","entry_id":"389","tools":[],"library":{"HCR Brochures: Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act":"\/healthcarereform\/assets\/library\/88.pdf"}},"3":{"date":"January 1, 2014","provision":"Small employer tax credits available only in exchange","blurb":"","entry_id":"390","tools":[],"library":{"HCR Brochures: Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act":"\/healthcarereform\/assets\/library\/88.pdf"}},"4":{"date":"January 1, 2014","provision":"Free choice voucher required to be provided to qualifying employees","blurb":"Employers will have to allow for the use of free choice vouchers if the employee's premium cost sharing is between 8% and 9.8% of his or her household income. The voucher is paid by the employer and goes toward the cost of coverage through the exchange.","entry_id":"391","tools":[],"library":[]},"5":{"date":"January 1, 2014","provision":"Elimination of health status rating and other rating factors if used by an insurer","blurb":"","entry_id":"392","tools":[],"library":{"HCR Brochures: Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act":"\/healthcarereform\/assets\/library\/88.pdf"}},"6":{"date":"January 1, 2014","provision":"Small group redefined as 1-100 (in most states)","blurb":"Small group will be redefined from 2-50 to 1-100. (States may defer the implementation of the increase to 100 until 2016.)","entry_id":"393","tools":[],"library":[]},"7":{"date":"January 1, 2014","provision":"Employer requirement to offer minimum essential coverage (50 employees)","blurb":"Employers with 50 or more full-time employees will be required to offer minimum essential coverage. This coverage must have a 60% actuarial value minimum. (Basically, this means the plan covers at least 60% of covered health care costs.) Employers will be subject to penalties if they provide no health coverage to full-time employees or provide coverage that is not "affordable." These penalties will range from $2,000 to $3,000 per employee.","entry_id":"394","tools":[],"library":{"HCR Brief: Removing limits, health care cost":"\/healthcarereform\/assets\/library\/20.pdf","HCR Brief: Removing limits, Health care cost":"\/healthcarereform\/assets\/library\/226.pdf","HCR Brochures: Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act":"\/healthcarereform\/assets\/library\/88.pdf"}},"8":{"date":"January 1, 2014","provision":"HIPAA nondiscrimination rules on wellness programs","blurb":"","entry_id":"395","tools":[],"library":{"HCR Update: Grandfathering":"\/healthcarereform\/assets\/library\/1771.pdf","HCR Update: Dependent age limit, Nondiscrimination provision":"\/healthcarereform\/assets\/library\/279.pdf","HCR Update: Preventive care, Dependent age limit, Nondiscrimination provision":"\/healthcarereform\/assets\/library\/26.pdf","HCR Update: Preventative care, Dependent age limit, Nondiscrimination provision":"\/healthcarereform\/assets\/library\/282.pdf","HCR Update: Re-enrollment, Compensation discrimination, Flexible spending accounts":"\/healthcarereform\/assets\/library\/232.pdf"}},"9":{"date":"January 1, 2014","provision":"30% incentive cap for wellness programs","blurb":"The law codifies the HIPAA nondiscrimination rules on wellness programs and increases the incentive cap to 30% of the premium. The cap can increase to 50% at the discretion of the HHS secretary.","entry_id":"396","tools":[],"library":{"HCR Brochures: Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act":"\/healthcarereform\/assets\/library\/88.pdf"}},"10":{"date":"January 1, 2014","provision":"New fee on fully insured coverage","blurb":"A new fee will be built into the cost of fully insured coverage.","entry_id":"397","tools":[],"library":{"HCR Brochures: Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act":"\/healthcarereform\/assets\/library\/88.pdf"}},"11":{"date":"January 1, 2014","provision":"90-day limit on waiting periods for coverage","blurb":"Group health plans cannot require waiting periods for coverage of more than 90 days.","entry_id":"398","tools":[],"library":{"HCR Brochures: Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act":"\/healthcarereform\/assets\/library\/88.pdf"}},"12":{"date":"January 1, 2014","provision":"Treasury reporting","blurb":"Effective for tax years beginning after December 31, 2013, employers will be required to annually report information, such as:
*Whether minimum essential coverage is offered to full time employees
*Any waiting periods for health coverage
*The monthly premium for the lowest cost option in each enrollment category under the plan
*The employer's share of the total allowed cots of benefits provided under the plan
*Number of full-time employees during each month
*Name address and taxpayer identification number (or Social Security number) of each full-time employee, and the months each employee was covered under the employer's plan
*Other information that HHS may require (which will likely be refined in later regulations)","entry_id":"399","tools":[],"library":[]},"highlights":{"1":"Individual mandate","2":"State-based exchanges for individuals and small groups"}},"2018":{"1":{"date":"January 1, 2018","provision":"40% excise tax on high-cost "Cadillac" plans","blurb":"There will be a 40% excise tax on high-cost plans -- also known as "Cadillac" plans -- that cost more than $10,200 for single coverage or $27,500 for family coverage. The insurer or employer will be responsible for the tax.","entry_id":"415","tools":[],"library":[]},"highlights":{"1":"40% excise tax on high-cost "Cadillac" plans"}}}';
}