main new

Menu

Archive | Health Care Reform

Health Care Reform FAQ: Getting Lower Costs on Coverage

How much will Marketplace health insurance cost? Prices of Marketplace plans have not been set yet. Prices will be available Oct. 1, 2013, when open enrollment starts and you can begin shopping. How will Marketplace health plans be priced? All insurance plans available through the Marketplace will be offered by private insurance companies. The insurance […]

Continue Reading

Employer Mandate Penalties Delayed Until 2015

The Obama Administration has postponed the Affordable Care Act (ACA) employer mandate penalties for one year, until 2015. The Department of the Treasury announced the delay on July 2, 2013, along with a similar delay for information reporting by employers, health insurance issuers and self-funded plan sponsors. The delay does not affect any other provision […]

Continue Reading

Health Care Reform: Final Rule Issued on HIPAA Privacy and Security Protections

DID YOU KNOW? While most health plans are now required to cover contraceptives for women without charging a copayment, deductible or coinsurance, churches are currently exempt from this requirement. On Feb. 1, a rule was proposed that would exempt additional religious employers from the contraceptive coverage requirement. This proposal, however, also contains provisions that would […]

Continue Reading

Health Care Reform: Relief for Non-calendar Year Plans

DID YOU KNOW? An employer’s coverage is considered unaffordable if the employee’s required contribution for self-only coverage exceeds 9.5 percent of the employee’s household income. Employers can determine affordability based on the employee’s Form W-2 wages, even though his or her household may have other sources of income. Two additional safe harbors—the rate of pay […]

Continue Reading

Health Care Reform: Proposed Rules on Workplace Wellness Programs

DID YOU KNOW? While insured small group plans and individual health insurance policies will be subject to new deductible and out-of-pocket limit caps in 2014, proposed legislation indicates that the government does not intend to impose these regulations on self-insured group health plans or insured large group health plans. In addition, remaining grandfathered group health […]

Continue Reading