Employers who are beginning assessing their plans for 2018 may need to revisit their contribution strategy if they are subject to the employer responsibility requirements of the ACA. Employers who are “applicable large employers” (ALEs) must ensure that coverage is “affordable” in order to avoid the ACA’s employer penalty. Employer sponsored coverage was initially definedContinue reading “Caution — Affordability Percentage Declining for 2018”
Category Archives: Uncategorized
Will Window Shopping Save SHOP?
On May 15, 2017 the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced plans to change how employers can shop in the federal SHOP (FF-SHOP) marketplace. The announcement proposes that federally facilitated SHOP plans will no longer offer online enrollment for plan years beginning in 2018. Instead, employers can use the federal SHOP to “windowContinue reading “Will Window Shopping Save SHOP?”
HSAs and Medicare Conflicts
Employees who have enjoyed the benefit of health savings accounts (HSAs) may be in for a taxing surprise when they enroll in Medicare. That’s because Medicare enrollment disqualifies someone from contributing to an HSA. Working employees may sign up for premium free Medicare Part A when they are first eligible for coverage at age 65.Continue reading “HSAs and Medicare Conflicts”
ACA Employer Reporting Compliance Still Required
Mark Twain has been quoted as saying, “The rumors of my death have been greatly exaggerated.” One could use this same phrase to describe the penalties that employers face for noncompliance with the ACA’s employer reporting requirements. President Trump’s first executive order signed on January 20th may be the “rumor” that ACA compliance is stayed.Continue reading “ACA Employer Reporting Compliance Still Required”
Rule on Market Stabilization Finalizes Special Enrollment Documentation
Starting in June 2017, new consumers in all states served by the HealthCare.gov platform attempting to enroll through applicable special enrollment periods (SEPs) will have to undergo pre-enrollment verification of eligibility. Enrollees would have their enrollment delayed or “pended” until verification of eligibility is completed by the Exchange. The goal of SEP documentation is toContinue reading “Rule on Market Stabilization Finalizes Special Enrollment Documentation”
Keep on Complying!
One would have to be in a deep sleep to avoid the barrage of “news” regarding Congressional action to repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA). But, all of the drama does not mean that anything has changed… yet. Health insurance brokers have been fielding calls from clients asking if they still have to file formsContinue reading “Keep on Complying!”
IRS Eases Filing Requirement for Individuals
In response to the Trump administration executive order that directed federal agencies to use discretion to reduce regulatory burdens, the IRS recently reversed course regarding individual tax returns and ACA compliance. The IRS had planned to reject individual tax returns if they were filed without information relating to whether the taxpayer had health coverage. InContinue reading “IRS Eases Filing Requirement for Individuals”
Contribution Strategy May Complicate Compliance
One of the recurring questions posed by NAHU members asks whether employers can vary the employer contribution to health coverage by employee class. For example, an employer may want to pay 75% of coverage for hourly workers and 50% for salaried workers. Or, an employer may want to offer 100% of coverage for workers whoContinue reading “Contribution Strategy May Complicate Compliance”
New Rule Aimed at Market Stabilization
The Trump administration has published a new proposed rule aimed at stabilizing the individual insurance market. This coincides with NAHU’s emphasis on the critical need to stabilize the individual insurance market. Critics will say that the rule doesn’t do enough. However, the rule advises that this first step is one of several that will beContinue reading “New Rule Aimed at Market Stabilization”
IRS Missive Seeks Out Non-Filing ALEs
It seems that some employers are receiving requests from the IRS asking where their reports are! These letters appear to be one of the first efforts by the IRS to enforce the employer responsibility requirements of the ACA. Employers who have 50 or more full-time and full-time equivalent employees are required to file Forms 1094-CContinue reading “IRS Missive Seeks Out Non-Filing ALEs”
Compliance NOW! 