The historic healthcare reform bill that President Obama will sign into law has provisions that affect UTU members and retirees. Notable provisions, as reported by The Washington Post, The New York Times and Reuters, include:

EMPLOYEES OF CARRIERS OFFERING HEALTHCARE INSURANCE: For the overwhelming majority of UTU members whose employers provide healthcare insurance, there will be minimal, but meaningful, changes: 1) The lifetime cap on benefits will be eliminated; 2) employees, their spouses and children with pre-existing conditions, or new illnesses, cannot be dropped from coverage; and, 3) insurers must allow children to remain on their parents' policy until their 26th birthday.

EMPLOYEES OF SMALL CARRIERS: As small-group premiums are higher than premiums for larger employer groups, small businesses will be able to buy insurance coverage for employees through the legislation's created "insurance exchange," and the employer may be eligible for a tax credit to cover a significant share of the healthcare premium expense.

The insurance exchange will consist of regulated insurance marketplaces administered by individual states, in which small businesses and those without employer provided healthcare insurance may shop for, compare and buy healthcare insurance meeting federal standards.

MEDICARE BENEFICIARIES: There are no cuts to traditional Medicare benefits. The Medicare prescription-drug doughnut hole will gradually narrow every year until it is eliminated by 2020, when 75 percent of drug costs will be covered by Medicare. In the meantime, if drug expenses cause a retiree on Medicare to fall through the doughnut hole (after $2,700 is spent on drugs), the retiree will receive a $250 rebate in 2010, and a 50 percent discount on brand-name drugs beginning in 2011.

Additionally, all co-payments, deductibles and other cost sharing for preventive care under Medicare will be eliminated; and Medicare will begin paying for regular physician visits for health check-ups.

NO WORKPLACE HEALTHCARE INSURANCE: Employers with 50 or more workers who do not offer employees healthcare insurance may face penalties for not providing coverage. For firms with fewer than 50 workers that do not offer healthcare insurance, those workers whose income is too high for eligibility under Medicaid will be able to obtain family healthcare insurance though an "insurance exchange." A subsidy may be available to help pay for insurance exchange coverage (depending on the family's finances).

Also, out of pocket co-payments, deductibles and other cost sharing will be capped.

The insurance exchange will consist of regulated insurance marketplaces administered by individual states, in which small businesses and those without employer provided healthcare insurance may shop for, compare and buy healthcare insurance meeting federal standards.

HIGHER TAXES: Higher Medicare payroll taxes will fall entirely on the wealthy -- individuals earning more than $200,000, and couples earning more than $250,000.