Employers
The House Ways and Means Committee recently cleared legislation which would make substantial enhancements and improvements to Health Savings Accounts (HSAs). There are two bills which have now been cleared for a vote in the House of Representatives (House). If passed in the House, the bills would then need to be approved by the Senate before going to the president for signature.
Employers often wonder if they can pay or reimburse employees for Medicare premiums if they waive coverage under the employer-sponsored group health plan. This may drive down the overall cost to the employer, and it may even be in the best interest of some Medicare-eligible participants; however, this type of action is generally prohibited under various laws.
The Employer Mandate guidelines state that coverage is affordable when an employee must pay no more than 9.5% of their household income (inflation-adjusted to 8.39% for the 2024 plan year) for self-only coverage which is offered, but which employers know the household income of an employee?
Under guidance issued in 2020, qualified High Deductible Health Plans (HDHPs) have been permitted to cover COVID-19 testing and treatment prior to the deductible and without it impacting the eligibility for a person to make contributions to a Health Savings Account (HSA). The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has recently indicated this temporary provision will be coming to an end.
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) recently issued Rev. Proc. 2023-29 which includes information about the changes to the affordability percentage as it relates to the Employer Mandate for 2024.
The state of Illinois has passed a law known as the Transportation Benefits Program Act which will require some employers in the Chicago metropolitan area to offer pre-tax transportation benefits to their employees.
Cafeteria Plans allow employees to elect “qualified benefits” offered by their employer, and those qualified benefits may be paid for with pre-tax contributions by employees. Employees generally save on state income taxes, federal income taxes, and FICA taxes (i.e., Medicare and Social Security taxes). Employers also reduce their FICA taxes when a Cafeteria Plan is in place, so it is usually a win-win for all parties.
The use of telehealth (sometimes called telemedicine or virtual care) has expanded dramatically over the past few years. Telehealth generally involves connecting with a physician or medical provider by phone, internet, or a combination thereof for primary care, mental health, second opinions, or other medical reasons. It has become a faster and more convenient way to receive medical care.
Last month the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) published Rev. Proc. 2023-23 which includes the 2024 limits for qualified high deductible health plans (HDHPs) and Health Savings Accounts (HSAs). Read on for a summary of these limits.
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