Flowers may be welcome signs of spring, but a sign that spring is here that may be less welcome is the implementation of the marketplace appeals process for employers. Beginning in 2016, the federally facilitated marketplace (FFM) will send notices to employers if an employee receives APTC and the employee has identified their employer inContinue reading “Spring to Sprout Flowers and Appeals!”
Author Archives: NAHU
Employees Need to Beware Subsidy Farsightedness
People who are farsighted see things that are far away more clearly than they see something close to them. So it is with employees who have their eyes focused on the Affordable Care Act’s individual market subsidies. A number of Compliance Corner questions are variations of: “If an employee has an offer of coverage throughContinue reading “Employees Need to Beware Subsidy Farsightedness”
Short Term Policies No ACA Panacea
An insurance product that many thought would become extinct with implementation of the ACA can’t be counted out – yet. Short term health insurance policies have been an attractive short-term option for many years. While the policies generally offer limited benefits, the ability to purchase a plan for 30 days or 6 months or evenContinue reading “Short Term Policies No ACA Panacea”
Employer Reporting When Employee Waives Coverage
Many employers are struggling with the ACA’s employer reporting requirements. It’s hard enough to know what to report when an employee enrolls in coverage. But, what is the proper way to report that an employee has waived coverage? Line 16 becomes very important in this scenario. If the employer has adopted an affordability safe harbor,Continue reading “Employer Reporting When Employee Waives Coverage”
Coping with COBRA… and Employer Reporting!
Employer reporting is hard enough! But, employer reporting when there has been a COBRA qualifying event revives images of coiled snakes striking out. Final 2015 instructions for completing forms 1094-C and 1095-C changed some of the rules related to reporting COBRA offers of coverage. Example for Termination at end of month Facts or Assumptions: EmployerContinue reading “Coping with COBRA… and Employer Reporting!”
Reporting Delay Shouldn’t Cause Consumer Filing Delays
The delay in reporting deadlines announced by the IRS in late December has given many employers much needed breathing room. IRS Notice 2016-4 issued on December 28, 2015 extending the filing deadlines for ACA reporting. Employers subject to the reporting requirements face a deadline of March 31, 2016 to furnish 1095-C statements to each full-timeContinue reading “Reporting Delay Shouldn’t Cause Consumer Filing Delays”
New IRS Notice 2015-87 Announces Increase in Employer Shared Responsibility Penalties
Whatever a broker or employer knows about the ACA is subject to change with little notice. This has been the case since the ACA was enacted into law in 2010. And, the tradition continues with IRS Notice 2015-87. IRS Notice 2015-87 is only 31 pages long. But, many of those pages warrant careful review. OfContinue reading “New IRS Notice 2015-87 Announces Increase in Employer Shared Responsibility Penalties”
ACA Terms and Acronyms Brokers Need to Know
There are a handful of terms and acronyms that relate to the ACA that health insurance brokers need to understand as readily as they understand texting’s LOL! In some respects, the ACA has caused brokers to learn a new language. ALE Pronounced as each letter – A-L-E or like the beer – ale An ALEContinue reading “ACA Terms and Acronyms Brokers Need to Know”
10 ACA Reporting Reminders and Tips
Small employers with insured health plans do not have to provide reports to their employees or to the IRS. Employers with 50 or more full-time and full-time equivalent employees must report for this year. Transition relief does not apply for reporting purposes. Employers who will file 250 or more information returns must do so electronicallyContinue reading “10 ACA Reporting Reminders and Tips”
Spousal Carve-Outs Gaining Traction?
A simple internet search for the term “spousal carve outs” turns up dozens of links. The surfeit of links underscores the interest that employers are showing for measures that may reduce health coverage costs. Implementing a spousal carve-out or spousal surcharge is no small task. Employers need to consider a host of issues, not theContinue reading “Spousal Carve-Outs Gaining Traction?”
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