Despite having an extra day, February 2016 remained relatively quiet in regard to compliance and employee benefit plans. The Department of Labor (DOL) issued the awaited proposed revisions to the Summary of Benefits and Coverage (SBC) template and its instructions. The 2016 poverty guidelines (also referred to as the FPL) were released by the Department […]
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Compliance Recap // December 2015
2015 went out with a bang, as federal agencies and the White House issued a number of major delays relating to employee benefits. Most significantly, IRS reporting for the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act’s play or pay requirement has been delayed, for both forms being sent to employees and forms being sent to the […]
Read moreIRS Final Rule on Minimum Value
In December 2015, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) issued a final rule that clarifies various topics relating to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) and premium tax credit eligibility provisions. The rule finalizes regulations that were proposed years earlier. Child Income The final rule clarified language relating to the calculation of a taxpayer’s […]
Read moreCOBRA and the Affordable Care Act (ACA)
The Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) requires employers to offer covered employees who lose their health benefits due to a qualifying event to continue group health benefits for a limited time at the employee’s own cost. COBRA provisions are found in the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA), the Internal Revenue Code (Code), and […]
Read morePerfect Attendance! How to Handle Leaves of Absence under the ACA
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) requires applicable large employers (ALEs) to offer full-time employees health coverage, or pay one of two employer shared responsibility penalties. An ALE is an employer with 50 or more full-time or full-time equivalent employees (for 2015, this threshold is 100). A full-time employee is an employee who […]
Read moreIRS Notice on Minimum Essential Coverage Reporting
Minimum essential coverage or “MEC” is the type of coverage that an individual must have under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA). Employers that are subject to the ACA’s shared responsibility provisions (often called play or pay) must offer MEC coverage that is affordable and provides minimum value. The IRS has issued Notice […]
Read moreBenefits and Employment Briefing // Fall 2015
The Surprising Compliance Issues of High Deductible Health Plan/Health Savings Account Arrangements As the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) comes into complete fruition, many employers are offering to employees High Deductible Health Plans (HDHPs) and facilitating the establishment and funding of Health Savings Accounts (HSAs). Read more ACA Cadillac Tax: IRS Issues […]
Read moreIRS Proposes Minimum Value Rule Change to Mesh IRS and HHS Rules
Beginning in 2015, under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), large employers must offer affordable, minimum value coverage to their full-time employees or potentially pay a penalty. Some companies have or had been marketing a plan that they state satisfies the minimum value requirement (an actuarial value of 60 percent), based upon a […]
Read moreAffordable Care Act Information Returns
Under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), individuals are required to have health insurance while applicable large employers (ALEs) are required to offer health benefits to their full-time employees. In order for the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to verify that (1) individuals have the required minimum essential coverage, (2) individuals who request premium […]
Read moreCompliance Recap // July 2015
July brought the benefits industry increased fines relating to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) as well as some much-anticipated updates and information on a variety of subjects. A trade bill passed in early July increased penalties for employers that fail to file IRS forms relating to the ACA’s play or pay provision, […]
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