March 2018 March was a quiet month in the employee benefits world. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) released a bulletin that lowered the family contribution limit for health savings account (HSA) contributions. The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) updated its model Premium Assistance Under Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program notice (CHIP notice). The […]
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January 2018 Compliance Recap
January 2018 January was a busy month in the employee benefits world. On January 24, 2018, the U.S. Senate confirmed Alex Azar as the new Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) proposed regulations regarding association health plans. HHS released the 2018 federal poverty guidelines. […]
Read moreIRS Reporting Tip 2
2017 Plan Year Form 1094-C, Line 22 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 […]
Read moreDecember 2017 Compliance Recap
Compliance Recap December 2017 December was a relatively busy month in the employee benefits world. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) delayed the reporting deadlines in 2018 for the 1095-B and 1095-C forms to individuals. President Trump signed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released guidance on accommodation […]
Read moreIRS Extends ACA Reporting to Employees
On Friday, December 22, 2017, the IRS extended the 2018 due for Applicable Large Employers (ALEs) to furnish 2017 health coverage forms (Forms 1095 C/B) to individuals. Employers now have until March 2, 2018 to provide these forms. This is a 30 day extension from the original due date of January 31, 2018. As a […]
Read moreCompliance Recap November 2017
November was a busy month in the employee benefits world. President Trump nominated Alex Azar for Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) updated its guidance on employer shared responsibility penalty assessments and released guidance on Qualified Small Employer Health Reimbursement Arrangement (QSE HRA) implementation and […]
Read moreIRS Updates Guidance on Play-or-Pay Penalty Assessments
Beginning in 2015, to comply with the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), “large” employers must offer their full-time employees health coverage, or pay one of two employer shared responsibility / play-or-pay penalties. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) determines the penalty each calendar year after employees have filed their federal tax returns. In November […]
Read moreOctober Compliance Recap
October 2017 October was a busy month in the employee benefits world. President Trump announced a new Acting Secretary for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Eric Hargan fills the position vacated by Tom Price, who resigned in late September 2017. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) issued the instructions for Forms […]
Read moreQualified Small Employer Health Reimbursement Arrangements FAQ
Updated November 4, 2017 On December 13, 2016, President Obama signed the 21st Century Cures Act (Cures Act) into law. The Cures Act provides a method for certain small employers to reimburse individual health coverage premiums up to a dollar limit through HRAs called “Qualified Small Employer Health Reimbursement Arrangements” (QSE HRAs). The provision went […]
Read moreSeptember 2017 Compliance Recap
Compliance Recap September 2017 September was a quiet month in the employee benefits world. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) issued final Forms 1094/1095, special per diem rates for 2017-18, and guidance on the tax treatment of leave-based donation programs. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced a Medicare special enrollment period for individuals […]
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