Many of the thresholds in PPACA have annual cost-of-living adjustments. The IRS has released the 2015 “affordability” thresholds. Affordability is measured differently for purposes of eligibility for the premium tax credit/subsidy (and any employer-shared responsibility penalty triggered by an employee receiving a premium subsidy) and the individual-shared responsibility penalty. For 2015 an employee will be eligible for a premium subsidy if the employee’s cost for single-only coverage under the least expensive minimum value plan offered to the employee exceeds 9.56% of the employee’s safe harbor income. An individual will be exempt from the individual-shared responsibility requirement if the cost of coverage exceeds 8.05% of the individual’s household income. (The 2014 figures were 9.5% and 8%.)
