The Obama Administration is considering legislation that would transform the American healthcare system. The House of Representatives has narrowly passed reform legislation, and the Senate is currently debating it. The legislation would alter public programs such as Medicare and Medicaid, as well as set new standards in the employer-based system, which covers approximately 161 million Americans under 65 years old. Both House and Senate versions of the reform legislation include specific requirements for employer-based insurance, such as coverage for mental health services, an end to maximum lifetime benefits, and a requirement that employers contribute for 72.5% of the cost of single coverage. This issue brief examines the impact of these requirements on employees in California covered by employer-based health insurance.
