For policy plan years beginning after September 30, 2018 and ending before October 1, 2019 the PCORI fee will be $2.45. This will be the final plan year that the fees must be collected. What is it? The Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Trust Fund (PCORI) was established under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The fees pay […]
Regulation Updates
Same-Sex Marriages in California are Legal Again
U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals smoothed the way for same-sex marriages to begin again in California Less than 48 hours after the U.S. Supreme Court refused to overturn the lower Court’s ruling that Proposition 8 (which banned same-sex marriages) was unconstitutional in California, the first marriage license was issued. This means that the State […]
US Supreme Court’s Decision on the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA)
Actions Employers Need to Take in Response to the Ruling on DOMA The US Supreme Court ruled that Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) was unconstitutional. This was the section of DOMA that defined a marriage being between same sex couples. The results of this ruling is that now many domestic partners […]
PPACA
PPACA IS NOT UNCONSTITUTIONAL, BUT IS IT REALLY SAFE? REPUBLICANS VOW TO REPEAL AND REPLACE In a landmark decision, the Supreme Court today ruled that the majority of the PPACA is constitutional. The Supreme Court clarified that the individual mandate is really a tax and therefore is not unconstitutional. Republicans quickly reinforced their commitment to repeal […]
Affordable Health Care (ACA) Provisions
Affordable Care Act (ACA) Provisions Some Insurance Carriers to Continue Some ACA Provisions Humana and United Health Care are leading the pack in announcing that regardless of what happens with the Supreme Court ruling on Affordable Care act (ACA), they will continue to offer some of the provisions under the controversial law. The provisions are: […]
Subsidy Extended
COBRA Subsidy Extended Again! On March 2, 2010 the President signed the Temporary Extension Act of 2010 (H.R. 4691). Section 3 of this act revises the COBRA Premium Subsidy under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA). Under the revisions: Employees who experience an involuntary termination of employment on or before March […]
Michelle’s Law
Benefits Review-Michelle’s Law (Pub. L. 110-381) Summery of Michelle’s Law: Michelle’s Law pertains to seriously ill or injured full-time college students may maintain dependent insurance coverage for up to 12 months, if their physician provides written documentation supporting the need for the medical leave. Medical Leave may mean the student is absent from school or […]
HEART Act
Heroes Earnings Assistance and Relief Tax Act (HEART Act) On June 17th, President Bush signed the Heroes Earnings Assistance and Relief Tax Act of 2008 (the Heart Act). This new legislation affects the way payments are made to individuals who are called to serve in active military service and also affects the treatment of reservists […]