Happy End of Summer!
Sue McKay
Dan Bernier, our wonderful lobbyist has provided a full report and will address state issues at the upcoming NAIFA-Maine Sales Congress on September 24, 2019.
Highlights and lowlights of this past session:
Below is the list of bills NAIFA is tracking on the Federal side and the position NAIFA has on each: “For”, “Against”, and if they aren’t taking a position on it, it says “None”. As far as our delegation, Senator Collins sponsored 2 bills. Both had only 1 co sponsor each (116S321 and 322). Senator Collins co sponsored 684. Senator Angus King did not sponsor or co-sponsor any of these. On the House side: Rep Chellie Pingree co sponsored 116HR1007, and Rep. Jared Golden and Chellie Pingree co- sponsored: 116HR1384 and 748.
NAIFA’s one ”against“ position on this list is Medicare for All (116HR1384)
Long story short, Not much movement expected for the remainder of 2019.
House
Senate
Highlights and lowlights of this past session:
- We continue to creep forward on repealing the annuity premium tax, but because there is a fiscal note attached, it got stuck in Appropriations.
- Maine is more prepared in case the ACA goes away. Our laws were updated to reflect the ACA’s current coverage requirements: The law that will hurt our clients who have relied on short term medical as a bridge. I doubt anyone will sell it with the new restrictions set to start 1/1/2020.
- People who want coverage will need to go into an ACA plan even if their gap between coverage is only a month.
Below is the list of bills NAIFA is tracking on the Federal side and the position NAIFA has on each: “For”, “Against”, and if they aren’t taking a position on it, it says “None”. As far as our delegation, Senator Collins sponsored 2 bills. Both had only 1 co sponsor each (116S321 and 322). Senator Collins co sponsored 684. Senator Angus King did not sponsor or co-sponsor any of these. On the House side: Rep Chellie Pingree co sponsored 116HR1007, and Rep. Jared Golden and Chellie Pingree co- sponsored: 116HR1384 and 748.
NAIFA’s one ”against“ position on this list is Medicare for All (116HR1384)
Long story short, Not much movement expected for the remainder of 2019.
House
- 116HR1007 Retirement Enhancement and Savings Act of 2019 1 42 For
- 116HR1010 To provide that the rule entitled "Short-Term, Limited Duration Insurance" shall have no force or effect. 1 26 None
- 116HR1084 To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to encourage retirement and family savings, and for other purposes. 0 0 For
- 116HR1143 Educating Consumers on the Risks of Short-Term Health Plans Act of 2019 1 0 None
- 116HR1384 Medicare for All Act of 2019 1 117 Against
- 116HR1398 H.R. - 1398 A bill to delay the reimposition of the annual fee on health insurance providers until after 2021. 1 124 For
- 116HR1994 HR1994 - To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to encourage retirement savings, and for other purposes. 1 58 For
- 116HR218 Death Tax Repeal Act 1 115 None
- 116HR3078 Expanding Access to Retirement Savings for Caregivers Act 1 14 For
- 116HR748 To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to repeal the excise tax on high cost employer-sponsored health coverage. 1 369 For
- 116HR898 The Skills Investment Act of 2019 1 12 None
Senate
- 116S172 A bill to delay the reimposition of the annual fee on health insurance providers until after 2021 1 27 For
- 116S215 A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to repeal the estate and generation-skipping transfer taxes, and for other purposes 1 33 None
- 116S275 Skills Investment Act of 2019 1 1 None
- 116S321 Retirement Security Act of 2019 1 1 For
- 116S322 SIMPLE Plan Modernization Act 1 1 For
- 116S684 A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to repeal the excise tax on high cost employer-sponsored health coverage. 1 61 For
- 116S80 Jobs and Premium Protection Act 1 6 For
- 116S972 Retirement Enhancement and Savings Act of 2019 1 3 For