Health Care Reform Blog

1/02/15 Employee Benefits: What to Watch in 2015 Looking back on 2014, an amazing array of compliance developments took place. The pace of change was unrelenting last year, and is likely to continue unabated into the New Year.

12/12/14 Health Care Reform Update: The 2014 Midterm Elections - What Do They Mean for Health Care?

The 2014 midterm election results raised interesting implications for health care reform.  Specifically, the dramatic shift to Republican congressional power will be balanced against a Democratic President with two full years remaining in office. 

12/10/14 Health Care Reform Update: When Employees Cannot Pay Health Plan Premiums - Insights for the Restaurant Industry and Similar Employees

Health reform requires that larger employers offer full-time employees minimum essential coverage that provides minimum value, and is affordable, in order to avoid the liability of the $2,000 or $3,000 penalty of the employer mandate. 

12/09/14 Health Care Reform Update: Regulations Issued for PPACA 3-Year Transitional Reinsurance Program

Under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, during the first three years that state health insurance exchanges are operational, health insurance issuers and plan administrators (on behalf of self-insured group health plans) will be assessed a per-enrollee fee to finance a three-year transitional reinsurance program.

11/26/14 Health Reform Compliance Updates: Minimum Value Plans and Hospitalization Coverage

Employer plans without hospitalization benefits - we know the federal agency does not accept these very stripped down plans as satisfying all health reform requirements, but for some lucky early adopters, keeping these plans is permitted for now and will shield the employer from all health reform penalties.

11/18/14 “Skinny” Health Plans Are Deceptively Complex

The "skinny" health care plans are a bit more complex than they seem at first blush. The employer must self-fund them, which means a risk analysis as development of a method for calculating and maintaining reserves.  There are several versions of skinny plans as well as several different administrators. 

11/12/14 IRS Announces New Cap for Health Flexible Spending Accounts (Health FSA)

Late in October 2014, the IRS announced a list of revised limits for 2015. Key among them is a new health FSA limit. 

10/30/14 Health Care Reform Update: HPID Numbering Delay

HHS has to delay the HIPAA-numbering requirement until further notice. This requirement was to apply for large plans by November 5, 2014 and small employers by November 5, 2015 -- but is now delayed for all indefinitely. 

10/10/14 Health Care Reform Update: Instructions for 6055 and 6056 Reporting Forms

On August 29, 2014, the IRS published long-anticipated draft "instructions" to its PPACA reporting materials. Specifically, it issued instructions explaining the forms to be used by applicable large employers and insurers for reporting certain health care information. 

9/29/14 Health Reform Compliance Updates: Final Rules on Benefits Not Subject to Health Reform

The Federal agencies recently finalized regulations on "excepted benefits," which are exempt ("excepted") from almost all provisions of health reform.

9/24/14 Health Care Reform Update: IRS Notices

On Thursday, September 18th, the IRS issued several Notices on issues of interest to employers sponsoring employee benefit plans. Get a brief update. 

9/12/14 Is Apple iWatch Really a “Seminal Event” for the Employer Wellness Market?

Are you taking advantage of the wellness opportunities created by Health Care Reform?

9/11/14 Health Care Reform Update: Agencies Release Rules on Religious Objections to Contraceptive Coverage

In August 2014, Federal agencies jointly issued proposed and interim final rules to establish new compliance alternatives for employers who object, on religious grounds, to providing ACA-mandated contraceptive coverage. Under health care law, women are afforded coverage for recommended preventive care, including all FDA-approved contraceptive

5/15/12 Reading the Tea Leaves – Health Reform and the Supreme Court

The U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments in late March regarding the federal health reform law. Although the Justices have already voted on the issue and their law clerks know the outcome, C-level executives, HR professionals, and benefits consultants remain in a holding pattern of sorts until the decision is released. 

12/15/10 Hoping to Grandfather Only Your Executive Plan – Some Concerns

Many of our clients ask whether an employer could simply grandfather the executive medical plan portion of a program. Some carriers assert that is possible, but we have some specific concerns. 

11/15/10 Health Care Reform – Is Repeal on the Horizon?

The health care reform act was a major campaign issue in the 2010 mid-term elections. Some politicians promised a repeal if they were elected; some threatened one if they weren’t. Now that the votes have been counted, will reform be repealed or changed?