Employee Benefits Plan Limits for 2021

Many employee benefits are subject to annual dollar limits that are periodically updated for inflation by the IRS. The IRS typically announces the dollar limits that will apply for the next calendar year well in advance of the beginning of that year. This gives employers time to update their plan designs and make sure their…

Final Rule on Health Care Transparency Issued

The Departments of Labor (DOL), Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Treasury (Departments) issued a final rule that imposes new transparency requirements on group health plans and health insurers in the individual and group markets. Specifically, the final rule requires plans and issuers to disclose: Price and cost-sharing information to participants, beneficiaries and enrollees…

PCORI Fee Amount Adjusted for 2021

The Fee is $2.66 per Covered Life for Plan Years Ending in 2021 The IRS issued Notice 2020-84, which increases the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) fee amount for plan years ending on or after Oct. 1, 2020, and before Oct. 1, 2021. Specifically, the PCORI fee amount for plan years ending on or after Oct. 1,…

ACA Pay or Play Penalties Increase in 2021

The Adjusted Penalty Amounts for 2021 are $2,700 and $4,060 Under the Affordable Care Act’s employer shared responsibility (pay or play) rules, applicable large employers—generally those who have 50 or more full-time employees (including full-time equivalent employees)—may be subject to a penalty if they do not offer affordable coverage that provides minimum value to their…

President Trump Issues Health Care Plan Executive Order

The America First Health Care Plan aims to Protect People with Preexisting Conditions and Combat Surprise Medical Billing On Sept. 24, 2020, President Donald Trump introduced his plan for affordable, high-quality health care, called the America First Health Care Plan. This plan, issued in an executive order, is primarily aimed at protecting people with preexisting conditions and…