by Alex | Nov 29, 2018 | Health Care Reform, HR, Obamacare
Breaking: IRS released Notice extending the due dates for the 2018 inf
ormation reporting requirements for employers to furnish information on returns and statements regarding minimum essential coverage provided to individuals.
Specifically, the notice extends the due date for furnishing the following to individuals: the 2018 Form 1095-B, Health Coverage, and the 2018 Form 1095-C, Employer-Provided Health Insurance Offer and Coverage, from January 31, 2019 to March 4, 2019.
Lastly, IRS extends the good-faith relief in Notice 2016-70 that applied to filings in 2015 to 2016 and 2017 and now to 2018. This relief applies to missing and inaccurate taxpayer identification numbers and dates of birth, as well as other information required on the return or statement.
To show good faith efforts to qualify for this relief, filers must meet applicable deadlines. However, IRS recognizes that late filers may still be able avoid penalties by showing reasonable cause for missing the due dates.
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The information provided herein is not written or intended as tax or legal advice and may not be relied on for purposes of avoiding any federal tax penalties. Entities or persons distributing this information are not authorized to give tax or legal advice. Individuals are encouraged to seek specific advice from their personal tax or legal counsel.
by Alex | Dec 15, 2016 | individual health insurance
21st Century Cures Act Passed
On Tuesday The 21st Century Cures Act Passed and signed by President Obama. The ‘Act” has numerous components but the the greatest impact on small business is the HRA ( health reimbursement arrangement) component.
The Cures Act allows small employers to reimburse individual health coverage premiums up to a dollar limit through HRAs called “Qualified Small Employer Health Reimbursement Arrangements” (QSE HRA). This provision will go into effect on January 1, 2017.
The IRS previously limited Employer reimbursement of individual premiums in light of the requirements of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA). For many years, employers had been permitted to reimburse premiums paid for individual coverage on a tax-favored basis, and many smaller employers adopted this type of an arrangement instead of sponsoring a group health plan. However, these “employer payment plans” are often unable to meet all of the ACA requirements that took effect in 2014, and in a series of Notices and frequently asked questions (FAQs) the IRS made it clear that an employer may not either directly pay premiums for individual policies or reimburse employees for individual premiums on either an after-tax or pre-tax basis. This was the case whether payment or reimbursement is done through an HRA, a Section 125 plan, a Section 105 plan, or another mechanism.
Who is eligible?
The Cures Act now allows employers with less than 50 FT employees (under ACA counting methods) who do not offer group health plans to use QSE HRAs that are fully employer funded to reimburse employees for the purchase of individual health care.
What are the funding limits?
The reimbursement cannot exceed $4,950 annually for single coverage, and $10,000 annually for family coverage. The amount is prorated by month for individuals who are not covered by the arrangement for the entire year. Practically speaking, the monthly limit for single coverage reimbursement is $412, and the monthly limit for family coverage reimbursement is $833. The limits will be updated annually.
Impact on Individual Subsidy Eligibility?
For any month an individual is covered by a QSE HRA/individual policy arrangement, their subsidy eligibility would be reduced by the dollar amount provided for the month through the QSE HRA if the QSE HRA provides “unaffordable” coverage under ACA standards.
Employees applying for coverage on federal or state health insurance exchanges will need to disclose the amount that the employer is making available via the HRA. That amount will be used by the exchange in calculating whether an employee’s household income exceeds ACA affordability thresholds (2017 – 9.69 % of household income), as well as determining subsidy amounts for those that meet the eligibility requirements. Those employees eligible for a subsidy will have their monthly amount reduced by the monthly HRA amount available through their employer.
If the QSE HRA provides affordable coverage, individuals would lose subsidy eligibility entirely. Caution should be taken to fully education employees on this impact.
COBRA and ERISA Implications?
QSE HRAs are not subject to COBRA or ERISA.
Annual Notice Requirement?
The new QSE HRA benefit has an annual notice requirement for employers who wish to implement it. Written notice must be provided to eligible employees no later than 90 days prior to the beginning of the benefit year that contains the following:
- A statement to the employee that it is their responsibility to provide the federal or state health insurance exchange with the amount being provided in HRA funds, as this amount will be used by the exchange when calculating need based premium assistance.
- A statement that if the employee is not covered by minimum essential coverage for any month of the tax year, they could be subject to a penalty under the Individual Mandate provisions of the ACA.
Failure to provide this notice will result in a penalty to the employer of $50 per applicable employee, up to a $2,500 maximum per calendar year. Transition relief is available for plans starting in the first quarter 2017 – they will have until April 1, 2017 to provide notices to employees.
Record-keeping, IRS Reporting?
Because QSE HRAs can only provide reimbursement for documented healthcare expense, employers with QSE HRAs should have a method in place to obtain and retain receipts or confirmation for the premiums that are paid with the account. Employers sponsoring QSE HRAs would be subject to ACA related reporting with Form 1095-B as the sponsor of MEC. Money provided through a QSE HRA must be reported on an employee’s W-2 under the aggregate cost of employer-sponsored coverage. It is unclear if the existing safe harbor on reporting the aggregate cost of employer-sponsored coverage for employers with fewer than 250 W-2s would apply, as arguably many of the small employers eligible to offer QSE HRA’s would have fewer than 250 W-2s.
Individual Premium Reimbursement Prohibitions
Outside of the exception for small employers using QSE HRAs for reimbursement of individual premiums, all of the prior prohibitions from IRS Notice 2015-17 remain. There is no method for an employer with 50 or more full time employees to reimburse individual premiums, or for small employers with a group health plan to reimburse individual premiums. There is no mechanism for employers of any size to allow employees to use pre-tax dollars to purchase individual premiums. Reimbursing individual premiums in a non-compliant manner will subject an employer to a penalty of $100 a day per individual they provide reimbursement to, with the potential for other penalties based on the mechanism of the non-compliant reimbursement.
For analysis if this works for your small business? Please contact our payroll and reimbursement team on your HR/Payroll/Compliance needs at Millennium Medical Solutions Corp (855)667-4621 for immediate answers.
by Alex | Mar 23, 2016 | Health Care Reform, Tax
1095B and 6055 Reporting Requirements FAQ
Under Obamacare, the IRS needs to know if your coverage met health care reform standards. The 1095-B is issued by Insurers on behalf of fully insured members directly to the IRS and send members a copy. In short you don’t have to do anything other than reviewing the info and confirming accuracy. 1095B and 6055 Reporting Requirements FAQ
The IRS will accept any number of items to prove that a member had insurance including:
- insurance cards
- explanation of benefits statements from your insurer
- W-2 Form or payroll statements reflecting health insurance deductions
- records of advance payments of the premium tax credit
- other statements indicating that you, or a member of your family, had health care coverage

What information is on the 1095-B form?
For each person covered on your policy, the 1095-B lists:
- Name
- Address
- Date of birth
- Taxpayer identification number (most likely a Social Security number)
- Months of coverage with us
If you are missing the taxpayer ID or Social Security numbers for anyone on your policy, the Insurer send you a letter. It’ll explain why they need the information and how to send it to Insurers securely.
How do I know if I should get a 1095-B form?
Insuerers send you a 1095-B form if:
- You bought your coverage directly and did NOT go through healthcare.gov.
- You get employer coverage and it met the health care reform standards.
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6055 Reporting on Form 1095-B | 6056 Reporting on Form 1095-C |
Provided by Insurer for insured medical plan; by employer for a self-insured medical plan | Provided by applicable large employer (ALE) |
Provided to each covered “responsible individual” (e.g., employee, COBRA QB, retiree) | Provided to each full time employee |
Provided by March 31, 2016 for coverage in prior calendar year | Provided by March 31, 2016 for coverage offered in prior calendar year |
Transmitted with employer’s Form 1094-B to IRS by May 31, 2016 (June 30, 2016 if filed electronically) | Transmitted with employer’s Form 1094-C to IRS by May 31, 2016 (June 30, 2016 if filed electronically) |
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RESOURCE:
If your organization can use a helpful audit on ACA, Payroll and HR please contact us today (855) 667-4621 or info@medicalsolutionscorp.com.
This communication is not intended, nor should it be construed, as legal or tax advice. Please contact a competent legal or tax professional for legal advice, tax treatment and restrictions. Federal and state laws and regulations are subject to change.