Employers and employee organizations are often looking for new, creative ways to expand, streamline, or restructure employees’ health benefits. Starting in January 2020, employers may offer two different health reimbursement arrangements (“HRA’s”) to their current employees. Typically, employers offer HRAs for retirees through collective bargaining agreements but do not offer them for current employees because
Federal District Court Strikes Down Affordable Care Act. What Now for Employers?
This Special Bulletin was authored by Heather DeBlanc and Amit Katzir.
A federal district judge in Texas ruled last Friday that the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act’s individual mandate was unconstitutional and that the ACA’s other provisions were therefore also invalid.
The decision centers around the ACA’s “shared responsibility payment,” a penalty on
ACA Reporting Relief – Written Statement to Covered Individuals Now Due March 2, 2018; Good Faith Penalty Relief Extended
This post was authored by Erin Kunze and Heather DeBlanc.
1. Written Statement to Covered Individuals Now Due March 2, 2018 for the 2017 Calendar Year Reporting Period
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has issued an automatic, 30-day extension for applicable large employers to furnish IRS Forms 1095-B and 1095-C to covered individuals. For
Affordable Care Act Reporting Draws Near
This post was authored by Heather DeBlanc
Over the last year we watched multiple unsuccessful attempts to repeal and replace the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (“ACA”). Now, ACA’s reporting deadlines are merely months away and the chance of repeal is low. Employers who are “applicable large employers” (“ALEs”) and Employers who offer self-insured
Employers’ Continuing Affordable Care Act Obligations Under the Trump Administration
One of the first acts of the new Administration was to issue an Executive Order (the “Order”) “Minimizing the Economic Burden of the Patient Protection and Pending Repeal.” The Executive Order, which is in line with the President’s campaign platform to repeal and replace the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), provides:
“It is
IRS Releases Proposed Regulations Regarding the Affordable Care Act’s Calculation of Coverage Affordability for Employers Offering Opt-Out Payments
This Special Bulletin was authored by Heather DeBlanc and Shardé Thomas.
On July 8, 2016, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) released proposed regulations implementing some of the rules previously announced in IRS Notice 2015-87. The proposed regulations will apply for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2016.
Among other topics, Notice 2015-87 introduced a
Righting Wrongs Before It Costs Serious Dough – How Affordable Care Act Audits Can Help Employers Avoid Steep Reporting Penalties
At the beginning of each calendar year all employers who are considered “Applicable Large Employers” (“ALE”) under the Affordable Care Act (“ACA”) Employer Mandate Regulations will be required to file with the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) annual information returns concerning the health care coverage offered to full-time employees. Employers may be assessed penalties for failures
President Obama Postpones Cadillac Tax and IRS Releases Further Guidance on the Affordable Care Act
This post was authored by Heather DeBlanc and Stephanie Lowe
Two recent developments have surfaced impacting the application of the Affordable Care Act (“ACA”) for employers. The first development is the postponement of the Cadillac Tax until 2020. The second development is the IRS’s recently released Notice 2015-87, which provides guidance and clarification on the
IRS Extends Affordable Care Act Reporting Deadlines
This post was authored by Heather DeBlanc and Stephanie Lowe
On December 28, 2015, the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) released Notice 2016-4, which generously extends the due dates for the 2015 information reporting requirements. The purpose of the extension is to allow employers and other providers additional time to adapt and implement procedures for gathering,
Preparation is the Key to Success: Applicable Large Employers and Employers Sponsoring Self-Insured Health Plans Prepare for Affordable Care Act Reporting and End of Year Deadline
This blog post was authored by Shardé Thomas and Heather DeBlanc.
With a little less than four months left in 2015, now is the time to evaluate your Affordable Care Act (“ACA”) compliance. If you are an applicable large employer or an employer that sponsors a self-insured health plan, you must provide written statements