ACA Information Center for Employers

The IRS encourages employers of all sizes to periodically review a new resource called ACA Information Center for Applicable Large Employers. The webpage features information regarding how to determine if you are Applicable Large Employer, Q/As for Form 1094-C and 1095-C , the Employer Shared Responsibility provisions (Play or Pay), and much more. While most … Continued

Federal Contractors Required to Offer Paid Sick Leave

President Obama signed an Executive Order requiring federal contractors to offer their employees up to seven paid sick days per year, according to a fact sheet released by the White House Office of the Press Secretary on September 7, 2015. The Executive Order provides people working on federal contracts with a minimum of one hour … Continued

Updated Pregnancy Discrimination Guidance

The Supreme Court’s recent decision in Young v. UPS has prompted the EEOC to announce an update to its Enforcement Guide on Pregnancy Discrimination and Related Issues (“Enforcement Guidance”). In Young v. UPS, the Court interpreted a new standard for claims brought under the Pregnancy Discrimination Act (“PDA”), or when a plaintiff claims that she … Continued

Same-sex marriage ruled a constitutional right by Supreme Court

States cannot ban same-sex marriage, the Supreme Court ruled in a 5-4 decision Friday morning. Justice Anthony M. Kennedy’s majority opinion firmly stresses marriage, as well as benefits that come with marriage, as rights guaranteed to gay and lesbian couples by the Constitution. “The right to marry is a fundamental right inherent in the liberty … Continued

EEOC addresses ADA implications on wellness plans

A wellness program’s compliance with standards imposed by HIPAA does not mean that program is compliant with Title 1 of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). On April 16, the EEOC released a proposed rule and additional guidance in its first real attempt to interpret the ADA in a manner that reflects its mission of … Continued

Confused by IRS 6055 & 6056 reporting requirements? HBI is here to help!

Final versions of IRS Forms 1094 and 1095, which are to be used by health plan issuers and employers to fulfill reporting obligations under Code §§ 6055 and 6056, were released by the IRS in February. The agency will use the benefit and participant information reported in these forms to administer the ACA employer and … Continued

Will a single embedded cost-sharing cap in HDHPs affect your overall plan cost?

Clarification on how the ACA annual cost-sharing limitation affects benefits offered under a high-deductible health plan (HDHP) has been released by the Department of Health & Human Services (HHS). This official interpretation of the ACA’s annual cost-sharing limitation effectively embeds an individual out-of-pocket limit for family coverage. The embedded annual limit, effective with non-grandfathered policy … Continued

Preparing for “Play or Pay”: Are your employees eligible for premium tax credits?

As of January 1, “Play or Pay” penalties are in effect. This means if one of your full-time employees qualifies for premium tax credits for Exchange coverage, it may trigger your employer-shared responsibility penalties under Code § 4980H. Employers that have employees enrolled in Exchange coverage may want to become familiar with the process although … Continued

Certain expatriate health plans will now receive ACA relief

The Expatriate Health Coverage Clarification Act provides permanent ACA relief for some expatriate plans, including self-insured programs. Qualifying plans are exempt from the following mandates and fees: Annual and lifetime limits Required dependent coverage to age 26 Preventive health services Summary of Benefits and Coverage (SBC) Essential health benefit requirement Prohibitions on pre-existing conditions, excessive … Continued