As in years past, it's time for all self-funded employer health plan sponsors to file and pay the required Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) fee. While hope continues that payment of this fee may be suspended as part of the current… more »

One of the major surprises of the Republican replacement plan to the Affordable Care Act ‒ tentatively called the "American Health Care Act (AHCA)" ‒ is not what's in it, but what House members left out: A provision eliminating or capping… more »

Earlier this month, House Republican leaders released an outline of their plan to replace the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The outline doesn't indicate how the plan would be paid for, but one frequently cited GOP funding suggestion ‒ capping the tax… more »

Hard though it may be to believe, here we are in January 2017... and if you're a self-funded employer plan sponsor, it's time to get serious about preparing your IRS Form 1095s. As you know, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and its supporting regulations… more »

With all the talk these days about repealing and replacing the Affordable Care Act (ACA), it's little wonder that its uncertain future troubles many businesses. But as health care reform is potentially "re-reformed," the MedBen Compliance team will be… more »

On Friday, November 18, 2016, the Internal Revenue Service released Notice 2016-70, effectively extending the due date for furnishing IRS Forms 1095-B and 1095-C to individuals offered and/or covered under employer-provided health plans. The extended… more »

The tax-free benefits of flexible spending accounts (FSAs) helps plan members to save money on their health care spending... but using FSAs to their maximum advantage requires a bit of prior planning. Many FSA members are currently deciding how much of… more »

Hard though it may be to believe, we've already entered the final quarter of 2016. If you're a self-funded employer, that means it's time to get serious about preparing for a critical health care reform mandate: Providing the IRS with an accurate… more »

With the implementation of the controversial Cadillac Tax postponed until 2020, it's easy for employers to put thoughts of it on the backburner... or hope that it simply goes away. But neither approach is a sound strategy, which is why MedBen recommends… more »

As in years past, all self-funded employer health plan sponsors are required to file and pay their Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) fee no later than July 31, 2016. All self-funded plan sponsors are required to pay a fee based on the… more »

Some six years after the introduction of federal health care reform, House Republicans have formally unveiled a replacement for a repealed Affordable Care Act, The New York Times reports. Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) said the plan slows the growth of… more »

A recent Benefits Pro article makes the case that since the introduction of the Affordable Care Act, employers have been put "in the position of becoming compliance officers." And while it may be true that health care reform has loaded human resource… more »

The Affordable Care Act recently celebrated the 6th anniversary of its passage. In the ensuing years, we've been subjected to a myriad of new regulations, amendments, clarifications and delays... not to mention, assorted taxes, fees and potential… more »

A new study suggests that middle-class families will be hardest hit by the Affordable Care Act's unpopular "Cadillac" tax. Investors Business Daily reports the study indicates that the excise tax -- ostensively meant to discourage benefit-rich health… more »

In hopes of salvaging the Affordable Care Act's unpopular "Cadillac" tax, President Obama will propose tweaking it as part of the 2017 federal budget, using individual health insurance marketplace plans as a new yardstick. According to Business… more »

As was widely expected, on December 18 President Obama signed into law the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2016 -- an omnibus spending and tax package that included in its amendments a two-year delay of the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA's) "Cadillac"… more »

MedBen helped current and prospective clients gain a better understanding of how to comply with a critical health care reform mandate at two workshops on November 16 and 17. Mike Ankrum, Sr. Healthcare Reform Consultant for Five Points ICT. and… more »

Even though the idea of repealing the "Cadillac" Tax has increasing support from Republicans and Democrats alike, the resulting budget shortfall means that President Obama would probably veto even a bipartisan bill. With that in mind, Bill Sweetnam of… more »

The IRS has released the finalized versions of the forms that employers can use to comply with Affordable Care Act rules. Under the employer mandate, businesses must certify the coverage offered to their employees. Form 1094-B -- Transmittal of… more »

What does sub-Saharan trade with the United States have to do with health care reform? Both were modified as part of the Trade Preferences Extension Act of 2015 (TPEA), passed into law earlier this year. As part of this trade bill, Congress passed… more »