Early Retiree Insurance Plan To Stop Taking Applications
The Early Retiree Reinsurance Program created by the federal health reform law will no longer accept applications after April 30 because it is on track to exhaust its $5 billion budget by September 2012, according to a CMS memo to congressional staff. The program was intended to remain in operation until 2014, when the health insurance exchanges take effect. The agency said the news was a sign of the "popularity and success" of the program. However, critics of the reform law likely will argue that the program was underfunded.
- "Health Reform Initiative Closing Early" (Haberkorn, Politico, 3/31).