HSA - FSA Eligible Expenses
Need a quick list of commonly-used items you can purchase with your pre-tax health FSA dollars?
Healthcare Reform in the News
Links to relevant news articles discussing the state of healthcare reform, the Affordable Care Act (ACA), and the politics surrounding it.
Other blogs you may be interested in:
Media and Politics
Three and a half years after the Affordable Care Act was signed into law, the news media has finally put healthcare reform front and center. With the disastrous roll-out of the Marketplace website coinciding with the Government Shut-Down last month, politicians, consultants and media personalities alike have been weighing in on Healthcare Reform and its financial and political impact on all Americans.
Rather than attempt to summarize what's been happening, here are links to recent and relevant stories, facts and opinions about the ACA.
News
- The White House Grants ACA Sign-up Extension - Due to website issues, the Obama administration granted a 6-week extension for Americans to sign up for health insurance next year. The previous penalty started on March 1st, meaning coverage had to be secured before February 15th. Now Americans have until March 31st to get coverage without a penalty (effective date of May 1st).
- Why Insurers Cancel Policies and What You Can Do When It Happens - This is a guide to help you understand the bigger picture of why plans are being canceled by insurers (or employers - but not ISIhr!)
- IRS Has All Bark and No Bite to Collect Health Law Penalties - The ACA declares that most Americans will face a penalty if they're uninsured in 2014. But experts predict the government will have a tough time forcing people to pay up.
- The Road to Obamacare: How Did We Get Here? - A history of how we arrived at our current state of health care in America.
- Insurance Cancellations Elbow Out Website Woes at Health Hearing - Republicans were more interested in asking about cancellation notices being received by people who purchase their own insurance than website problems.
- Having Access to Employer Coverage (Through Parents) Does Not Preclude Young Adults From Having Access to Subsidies
- Why Some Small Business Are Keeping Their Insurance Plans (Even Though They Don't Have To) - They are wary of discontinuing coverage and sending their employees to new insurance exchanges to obtain their own insurance. They say the problem-filled roll-out of the federal government's online insurance market has raised further doubts about whether their employees would have access to sufficient coverage at lower costs.
- Though this doesn't have to do specifically with the ACA, The US Treasury and IRS Announced a Major Modification to Health FSA "Use-or-Lose" Rule Last Week. Now $500 can be rolled over each year, and this doesn't affect the maximum contribution ($2,500).
What Does All This Mean for Employers?
Even though the debate about Heathcare Reform has finally reached the front stage, and there is a lot of clamor for repeal and modifications, there are certain things that we know aren't changing for employers right now. The Individual Mandate still goes into effect on January 1, 2014, the "Employer Mandate" still goes into effect January 1, 2015, and the Marketplaces are currently open for enrollment. There's no time left to "wait to see how things will pan out." Employers need to act on this law now and make preparations. Employers who partner with a PEO like ISIhr will have less to worry about both in terms of administrative duties and compliance with the ACA. ISIhr is here to answer all of your questions and concerns about the ACA and to provide consulting and guidance for your business.