One of the major issues at hand is whether the Trump administration will continue funding the cost-sharing reduction subsidies (CSRs), which are available to people who purchase coverage on the Health Insurance Marketplace. If the CSR subsidy funding is eliminated, there will be a great deal of volatility added to the individual health insurance market, and here’s why. 

 

Last week, House Republicans renewed their efforts to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Several closed-door meetings were held in an attempt to devise a plan that would appease both Conservative and Moderate Republicans. Progress is believed to have been made, but there is still not a bill that would pass the House. ACA repeal efforts are likely on a temporary hold as House members have returned to their home states for a two-week Spring recess.

Republican leaders held a retreat in Philadelphia last week to discuss their top priorities, and of course, discussion about the repeal and replacement of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) was on their to-do list. Although Republicans did not agree on a formal repeal and replacement strategy, they did lay out a timeline for their priorities. This includes a goal of introducing repeal and replacement legislation on the House floor by the end of March. It sounds like we are still at least a couple more months away from knowing the fate of the ACA.

 

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) issued Notice 2016-70 on November 18, 2016 which provides some relief to insurers, employers and other entities subject to ACA reporting requirements under Code Section 6055 and 6056. The Notice does not extend the due date of the filing requirement for the 2016 year, but it does extend the due date in which copies of the reporting forms must be provided to employees and individuals. The due dates are now as follows: