Healthcare Reform News

The health law will cost $104 billion less over the next decade, the Congressional Budget Office said after premiums for private Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) plans came in lower than the agency expected. The premium for a benchmark “silver” level plan, the second-most generous available, will average $4,400 in 2016, the CBO … Read more

On February 20, the Departments of Labor, Treasury, and Health and Human Services announced the release of both final and proposed regulations implementing a 90-day limit on waiting periods for health coverage. The following is a summary of these regulations: Summary of the 90-day Waiting Period Limitation Under Section 2708 of the Public Health Service … Read more

  On February 10. 2014, the Department of the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Services (the “IRS”) released proposed regulations under Code Section 4980H (54.4980H-1, 2, 3, 4, 6 and 6) relating to the employer shared responsibility provisions (the “Employer Mandate”) under Health Care Reform. These regulations follow prior guidance, make changes, provides clarifications and … Read more

Form W-2 Reporting of Employer-Sponsored Health Coverage The Affordable Care Act requires employers to report the cost of coverage under an employer-sponsored group health plan. Reporting the cost of health care coverage on the Form W-2 does not mean that the coverage is taxable. The value of the employer’s excludable contribution to health coverage continues … Read more

Changes with Wellness Programs for 2014 On May 29, 2013, the Departments of Health and Human Services, Labor, and the Treasury (the Departments) issued Final Rules on wellness program incentives that go into place for new and renewing plan and policy years on or after January 1, 2014. These rules apply to all non-grandfathered fully-insured … Read more

  CMS Creates Options for Individuals with Canceled Policies   The Centers of Medicare & Medicaid (CMS) announced if an individual has been notified that his or her individual market policy will not be renewed, he or she will be eligible for a hardship exemption and will be able to enroll in catastrophic coverage.  This … Read more

What Happens If My Income Changes After I Receive An Insurance Subsidy   Question: If I’m unemployed at the beginning of the year and sign up for health insurance through my state’s health insurance exchange, I’d probably get a subsidy because my income would be low. But what happens if I get a job later … Read more

            On September 13, 2013 the IRS changed the rules with Notice 2013-54 for Premium Reimbursement Arrangements (PRAs), Health Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs), and Health Reimbursement Arrangements (HRAs). The IRS in verbal comments, to clarify their position, stated they are stopping the pre-tax (tax-free) purchase of individual health policies  by an employee, and employers without … Read more

Out-of-Pocket Maximum Limit in Health Care Reform Being Delayed to 2015 for Some Insurers     WASHINGTON – In another setback for President Obama’s health care initiative, the administration has delayed until 2015 a significant consumer protection in the law that limits how much people may have to spend on their own health care. The … Read more

Coverage of Certain Preventive Services Under the Affordable Care Act Women’s Preventative Health Services   These final regulations promote two important policy goals. First, the regulations provide women with access to contraceptive coverage without cost sharing, thereby advancing the compelling government interests in safeguarding public health and ensuring that women have equal access to health … Read more