What Are Excepted Benefits?
“Excepted benefits” are health benefits that are limited in some way, such as stand-alone dental, long-term care, hospital indemnity, and Medicare supplement policies. Excepted benefits do not need to meet […]
What are the Projected 2015 Figures ?
HHS and the IRS released anticipated 2015 figures, including: A transitional reinsurance fee (TRF) of $44 (down from $63 for 2014) Maximum out-of-pocket (OOP) expenses of $6,750 for single coverage […]
Who Will Be Paying An Additional Medicare Tax?
The IRS issued final regulations on the additional 0.9 percent Medicare tax owed by high earners beginning in 2013. Employers must withhold this additional 0.9 percent from the employee’s pay […]
Frequently Asked Questions About The W-2 Reporting Requirement
Employers that issued 250 or more W-2s in the prior calendar year must include the value of “employer-sponsored group health coverage” on their employees’ W-2s. This means that an employer […]
HHS Announces Extensions to Enrollment and Premium Deadlines for Marketplace Coverage
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recently released an Interim Final Rule that formally extends some of the marketplace (also known as the exchange) deadlines and encourages […]
Who Is Eligible For The Small Business Tax Credit?
Beginning in 2014, the small business tax credit will only be available to small employers that offer coverage through the SHOP marketplace. Several counties in Washington and Wisconsin will not […]
Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan Extended
HHS has announced that the Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan (PCIP) also has been extended through January 31, 2014. The PCIP will be replaced by marketplace coverage, but to accommodate PCIP […]
New Option for Individuals Who Have Lost Coverage to Purchase a Catastrophic Policy
Currently, catastrophic coverage only is available in the marketplace to people under age 30 and to those who do not need to meet the individual mandate either because the cost […]
IRS Issues Notice about Same-Sex Spouses under Section 125 Plans, Flexible Spending Accounts, and Health Savings Accounts
On Dec. 16, 2013, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) issued Notice 2014-1 which provides some answers about covering same-sex spouses under Section 125 plans in light of the Windsor decision. In […]
Do You Understand the 2014 Requirements for Your Wellness Program?
The wellness program rules provide an exception to the general rule that employers may not take a person’s health status into account with respect to eligibility, benefits, or premiums under […]
