Benefits Buzz
On May 10, 2021, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) published Rev. Proc. 2021-25 which includes the 2022 limits for qualified high deductible health plans (HDHPs) and Health Savings Accounts (HSAs). Below is a summary of these limits:
Minimum Deductible to Qualify as an HDHP
• Single-only HDHP coverage = $1,400
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recently finalized its Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters which is also summarized in this Fact Sheet. These regulations are issued each year and make updates and changes to various provisions of the Affordable Care Act (ACA).
The Employee Benefit Security Administration (EBSA), a division within the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), recently published a Cybersecurity Program Best Practices document for employer plans subject to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA).
Health Reimbursement Arrangements (HRAs) can be a great way for employers to control their benefits budgets without sacrificing quality of coverage for their employees. There are several different types of HRAs available in the market, but perhaps the most popular is the Integrated HRA. These HRAs work alongside a group health plan to reimburse employees for out-of-pocket expenses. Only those employees enrolled in the group health plan can participate in the HRA.
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) created premium tax credits in the individual health insurance market which first became available as of January 1, 2014. The amount of the premium tax credit available to a person is largely based on their household income. Most eligible individuals receive the premium tax credit in advance by estimating their household income for the year.
The Department of Labor (DOL) issued an FAQ on April 7, 2021 relative to the application of COBRA subsidies authorized under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA). The information below summarizes the content of the FAQ.
Model Notices
The DOL has provided the following model notices:
