Employers
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has issued draft reporting forms for the purpose of filing information necessary to enforce the Employer Mandate. The 2020 draft version of the applicable forms can be found below (with finalized versions expected to be released later this year):
The Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 (COBRA) requires employers with 20 or more employees to offer continuation coverage under a group health plan for periods of 18, 29 or 36 months depending on the qualifying event.
Each year employers must provide a written notice to Medicare-eligible employees who are covered under their group health plan. The notice must include information about the creditable coverage status of the prescription drug benefit. In other words, the notice tells employees if the prescription drug benefit on the group health plan is at least as good as the standard Medicare Part D plan.
A date is finally set for the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) to once again rule on the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Oral arguments are expected to be heard on November 10, 2020, just one week after the presidential election.
Technology has influenced employee behavior and changed expectations. They are no longer comparing good and services, but instead experiences. As a result, they are demanding innovation, engagement, and personalization across every aspect of thier lives, including healthcare.
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) recently issued Rev. Proc. 2020-36 which includes details on the minimum required contribution percentage in determining whether employer-sponsored health coverage is affordable. In 2021, employer-sponsored health coverage will be considered affordable if an employee has to pay no more than 9.83% (an increase of 0.05% from 2020) of their income for such coverage.
Do you remember the days when employers could change from a $500 deductible plan to a $5,000 deductible plan and save 40-50% on insurance premiums? Then those same employers would offer a Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA) to cover most or all the deductible increase for employees who have chronic conditions or who experience unexpected medical events. The net result provided employers with significant savings while providing employees with substantially similar benefits. Those days still exist.
Small businesses often times find it hard to provide quality health insurance coverage to employees, especially during these unique times. Let’s face the reality! Health insurance usually comes with a high price tag, and small businesses may not be able to meet the contribution or participation requirements to provide a traditional group health plan to employees.
Premium Reimbursement Arrangements (PRAs) can generally be described as tax-free programs which are offered by employers to reimburse employees for health insurance coverage they obtain on their own. Below is a summary of the most common PRAs.
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) created a research institute known as the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI). The goal of PCORI is to help patients and those who care for them make better-informed decisions about healthcare choices. PCORI is funded in part by fees which are charged to health plans. The following information is designed to help employers understand their upcoming payment obligations.
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