January was a very quiet month for compliance, on the heels of the multitude of delays that came at the end of December 2015. The IRS updated its FAQs related to 6055 and 6056 reporting under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). UBA Guides and Compliance Documents UBA updated the popular “Play or Pay Penalty and […]
Read moreTag: compliance alert
ACA Reporting reminder for Applicable Large Employers (50+ Full-time equivalents)
This is a friendly reminder of upcoming compliance dates for ACA Reporting (1094 and 1095 forms) March 31, 2016: Organizations that meet the criteria of Applicable Large Employers must submit ACA form 1095-C to employees no later than March 31, 2016. Small employers with fewer than 50 employees who are self-insured must submit 1095-B to […]
Read moreU.S. Supreme Court Finds Same Sex Marriage Is Protected
The Supreme Court ruled in Obergefell v Hodges, that the 14th Amendment requires a state to license a marriage between two people of the same sex, and to recognize a marriage between two people of the same sex when their marriage was lawfully licensed and performed out of state. The decision was reached 5-4. Justice […]
Read moreWraparound Excepted Benefits to Launch with Two Pilot Programs
Health plan sponsors would be permitted to offer wraparound coverage to employees purchasing individual health insurance in the private market, including the Marketplace, in limited circumstances, under a new Final Rule issued by the Department of Labor (DOL) and other federal agencies. The Final Rule, published March 18, 2015, sets forth two narrow pilot programs […]
Read moreCompliance Recap // February 2015
Regulatory agencies were busy during the month of February, providing information on a variety of topics including: (1) reporting, (2) premium payment arrangements, (3) single benefit products and excepted benefits, (4) and benefit parameters. More information was also released on the “Cadillac tax” and on the definition of “spouse” as it relates to the Family […]
Read moreHighlights of Employer and Insurer Reporting Requirements
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) provides that individuals who do not have minimum essential (basic medical) coverage will owe a penalty unless they qualify for an exemption. Employers with 50 or more employees that do not offer affordable, minimum value coverage to their full-time employees also will owe a penalty. In addition, […]
Read moreCompliance Recap // November 2014
The month of November brought a new delay in reporting required from self-funded plans. It also brought several new notices and regulations that may affect sponsors of group health plans and an updated employer guide and health plan compliance checklist from the Department of Labor (DOL). Transitional Reinsurance Program Filing Delayed until December 5, 2014 […]
Read moreSame-Sex Marriages and Group Health Benefits
On October 6, 2014, the Supreme Court of the United States declined to review seven cases in which the lower appeals court had ruled that a state law or constitutional provision that prohibited same-sex marriage was unconstitutional. This declination means that the ruling of the appeals court is law, and that same-sex marriages are (or […]
Read moreTransitional Reinsurance Fee Filing Date Extended to December 5
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) extended the deadline for group health plans to provide their 2014 transitional reinsurance fee (TRF) submission. Filing is now due by 11:59 p.m. on December 5, 2014. The January 15, 2015, and November 15, 2015, deadlines to pay the fee remain the same.
Read moreCompliance Recap // October 2014
During the month of October, there were developments in the courts and new information from the regulatory agencies that may affect sponsors of group health plans. Requirement to Obtain a Health Plan Identifier (HPID) Delayed On Friday October 31, 2014 the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) quietly updated its Health Plan Identifier information […]
Read more