With all of the debate and squabbling about health care costs, there has been a general recognition that individuals who don’t qualify for a subsidy under the ACA have been hard hit by premium increases over the past years. In fact, CMS data released earlier this year indicated that non-subsidized enrollees saw a 20 percentContinue reading “Open Enrollment – Will States See the Silver Lining?”
Category Archives: Uncategorized
A Dozen Things to know about the Final Association Health Plan Rule
With publication of the final rule, the Trump administration has breathed new life into an old concept – the association health plan. While the new rule offers a few twists, whether association plans take off may rely on actions taken by the states. Already a number of states have initiated legal action in an attemptContinue reading “A Dozen Things to know about the Final Association Health Plan Rule”
HSAs Pose Compliance Concerns
Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) were created in 2003 according to the U.S. Department of the Treasury. Since that time, there haven’t been significant changes to them, especially significant legislative changes. Legislation is now pending in Congress to give HSAs a “refresh” that would bring HSAs more in line with today’s consumer needs. On June 5,Continue reading “HSAs Pose Compliance Concerns”
CMS Releases Reminders on Broker Use of Personally Identifiable Information (PII)
CMS released another slide deck to help brokers understand and comply with Marketplace Requirements. The newest deck is titled “Part II: Marketplace Privacy & Security Requirements for Agents and Brokers.” The slide deck addresses the use and protection of Personally Identifiable Information (PII). This latest information updates materials and guidance published last September. PII isContinue reading “CMS Releases Reminders on Broker Use of Personally Identifiable Information (PII)”
CMS Offers Compliance Tips to Brokers in Marketplace
In a newly released slide deck, CMS, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, offers tips to brokers who assist clients with Marketplace coverage. The slide deck is titled “Compliance with Marketplace Requirements: Considerations for Agents and Brokers.” The guidance reflects concerns CMS has expressed regarding consumer complaints, including some about brokers. CMS is consideringContinue reading “CMS Offers Compliance Tips to Brokers in Marketplace”
IRS Insight on Letter 227 – Hint: It’s in Reply to Letter 226J
Those lucky employers who have already received a 226J letter from the IRS have a Letter 227 to look forward to! The Letter 227 is the acknowledgement letter Applicable Large Employers (ALEs) receive following their response to the Letter 226J. The Letter 226J provides a preliminary calculation of the amount that an ALE may oweContinue reading “IRS Insight on Letter 227 – Hint: It’s in Reply to Letter 226J”
ACA Affordability Measure for 2019 Announced
The IRS published Revenue Procedure 2018-34 announcing the affordability percentage measure for plan years beginning after calendar year 2018. The new amount is 9.86%. This new amount is an increase from the 2018 affordability percentage of 9.56%. Affordability was pegged at 9.69% in 2017. Employers who are applicable large employers (ALEs) use the affordability percentageContinue reading “ACA Affordability Measure for 2019 Announced”
IRS Provides Limited Bare-Counties SHOP Relief
IRS Notice 2018-27 provides limited relief for employers who wished to utilize the small employer health insurance tax credit but there were no available plans in their county. As a reminder, the tax credit is available for a two-consecutive tax year period. It was first available for tax years beginning after December 31, 2009. ToContinue reading “IRS Provides Limited Bare-Counties SHOP Relief”
Déjà vu — IRS Revises HSA Family limit
IRS Revenue Procedure 2018-27 returns the annual limit for 2018 HSA family contributions to $6,900. This follows and supersedes Revenue Procedure 2018-18 which was published this past March. The IRS acknowledged that the $50 reduction to the limit on HSA deductions for family HDHP coverage imposed “administrative and financial burdens.” The notice reflected that theseContinue reading “Déjà vu — IRS Revises HSA Family limit”
“Grandmother” Rallies – Transition Relief Extended
As Mark Twain once wrote in a cable to a New York newspaper, “The report of my death was an exaggeration.” So, it is with “grandmothered” plans! CMS gave “grandmother” new life in an announcement on April 9, 2018 extending the transition relief known as “grandmothered” plans. Rather than terminating “grandmothered” policies at the endContinue reading ““Grandmother” Rallies – Transition Relief Extended”
Compliance NOW! 