Affordable Care Act (ACA) Guidance Has Finally Begun
On November 20, 2012, Affordable Care Act guidance was issued in the form of over 300 pages of proposed regulations. The guidance is broken into three parts: 1) requirements for essential health benefits, actuarial value, and other exchange related requirements; 2) various market reform initiatives; and 3) regulations related to employee wellness programs.
At this time, the proposed regulations related to the exchange requirements, as well as the market reform initiatives, will be more meaningful to industry practitioners. The proposed regulations related to wellness programs will be of greatest interest to employers.
In general, as of January 1, 2014, health plans will not be able to underwrite based on health status. Wellness programs have been granted a limited exemption. The maximum allowable reward under a wellness program as part of a group health plan has increased from twenty to Continue reading »
Employers’ 2012 Affordable Care Act To Do List
As a result of the Supreme Court upholding the Affordable Care Act (ACA), employers must continue to satisfy its requirements. In general, employer-sponsored group health plans that provide applicable employer-sponsored coverage are subject to ACA. There are a few limited exceptions, but most fully insured and self-insured group health plans are covered. If an employer determines their health benefits are covered, then they have several action items to address Continue reading »
Affordable Care Act-Required MLR Rebates Have Started to Arrive
As a result of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), some employers that sponsor group health plans have begun receiving Medical Loss Ratio (MLR) rebates from their health insurance carrier(s). Upon receipt of these rebate checks, employers have some decisions to make: Continue reading »
Reporting Requirements and Tax Increases Under the Affordable Care Act
Lost in the storm after the Supreme Court’s recent decision on the Affordable Care Act (ACA) is the fact that the Act includes several important provisions that either remain in effect for 2012 or go into effect in 2013 and 2014. These provisions are outlined below:
- Ongoing disclosure and reporting requirements, including w-2 reporting of the value of individual insurance coverage for 2012
- Medical Loss Ratio (MLR) rebates – some employers who sponsor insured group health plans will begin receiving rebate checks from their carriers in the coming weeks
- Beginning in 2013, an additional 0.9% Medicare payroll tax on high income earners. High income earners are defined as individuals, filing separately, with earned income over $200,000 and joint filers with earned income over $250,000. The additional tax only applies Continue reading »
How Will You Be Impacted – The Supreme Court’s Health Care Law Ruling
Now that the Supreme Court has ruled largely upholding the Affordable Care Act, taxpayers should be aware of some tax provisions that may impact them and prepare accordingly. The following provisions become effective in 2013:
- Taxpayers with modified AGI over $200,000 ($250,000 if MFJ; $125,000 if MFS) will be subject to a 3.8% surtax on net investment income,
- The hospital insurance portion of the FICA tax will be increased from 1.45% to 2.35% for wages over $200,000 ($250,000 if MFJ; $125,000 if MFS),
- Medical expenses will be deductible as itemized deductions only to the extent they exceed 10% of AGI (7.5% threshold will still apply to taxpayers who turn 65 before the end of the tax year),
- Employer-provided health Flexible Spending Arrangements (FSAs) will be limited to $2,500 per year.
- Employers who provide qualified prescription drug coverage for Medicare Part D eligible retirees, which is subsidized by the Department of Health and Human Services, will have to reduce their deduction for the coverage by the amount of the excludable subsidy. Continue reading »
