The IRS has released final regulations that address how wellness incentives or penalties, contributions to a health reimbursement arrangement, and employer contributions to a Section 125 plan are applied to determine affordability. While these regulations were issued in connection with the individual shared responsibility requirement (also called the individual mandate), the agencies said that they expect to use the same approach when determining affordability for purposes of eligibility for the premium tax credit and the employer-shared responsibility/play or pay requirements.
The regulations provide that when deciding if the employee’s share of the premium is affordable:
- Wellness incentives or surcharges, except for a non-smoking incentive, may not be considered. In other words, the premium for non-smokers will be used to determine affordability (even for smokers). Any other type of wellness incentive must be disregarded, even if the employee has earned one.
- If an employer makes contributions to a health reimbursement arrangement (HRA) that the employee may use to pay premiums, the employee’s cost of coverage may be reduced by the employer’s current year contribution to the HRA, provided that the planned employer contribution is publicized before the enrollment deadline.
- If an employer makes flex contributions through a Section 125 cafeteria plan, the employee’s required contribution may be reduced by flex contributions that (1) may not be taken as a taxable benefit, (2) may be used to pay for minimum essential coverage, and (3) may only be used to pay for medical care.
Because an employer’s contribution to a health savings account (HSA) generally may not be used to pay premiums, employer contributions to an HSA may not be used when determining affordability.
