IRS Drafts Large-Group Minimum Value Rules
Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) benefits standards will be different for plans at large employers than they are for individual policies and plans at small employers. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) talks about what the standards for large employers might look like in a new set of draft regulations, “Minimum Value of Eligible Employer-Sponsored Plans and Other Rules Regarding the Health Insurance Premium Tax Credit” (RIN 1545-BL43). Employers with more than 50 employees — or...
Read MoreModel Notices for Health Insurance Exchange Notification Released
Federal regulators on Wednesday released model notices that employers can provide to employees to satisfy a federal health care reform law requirement that employees be notified about the availability of public health insurance exchanges. Among other things, the notices from the U.S. Department of Labor — one for employers who offer a health plan to some or all employees, and one for employers who do not offer a health plan — explain how exchanges will operate, and that certain conditions will have to be...
Read MoreTime for Affordability
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) will help millions of people get coverage for the first time, but the new health insurance tax, costly benefit requirements and age rating restrictions will drive up the cost of coverage for many consumers and employers. When this happens, many younger and healthier Americans could decide not to get coverage, which would further drive up costs for everyone else. It’s time to focus on affordability. January 1, 2014 Reforms The broad market reforms outlined in the ACA take effect...
Read MoreSebelius Insists Exchanges Will Open Oct. 1
U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius on Friday assured yet another congressional panel that the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act exchanges will be opening on schedule. “We are moving ahead,” Sebelius said at a House Energy and Commerce health subcommittee hearing on the HHS fiscal year 2014 budget request. “We are definitely going to be open for open enrollment starting Oct. 1 of 2013.” Federal fiscal year 2014 will start Oct. 1. Sebelius has given similar...
Read MoreFamily Values and the Irony of the ACA
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) endeavors to help millions of Americans obtain medical insurance. Some supporters are compelled by compassion, others by business interest, but the idea of helping more people get insured is now widely supported. However, federal regulations have introduced what appears to be a significant disconnect between the intent to cover everyone and the employment regulations that will determine whether lower wage workers can actually afford coverage. Low wage families will be looking for the...
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