NAHU Hosts Webinar on Exchanges

NAHU Hosts Webinar on Exchanges
On May 10, NAHU conducted a one-hour webinar on health insurance exchanges.  It was an exceptionally thorough overview of the topic, and I would encourage folks to listen/view it.  The link to the Professional Development page of NAHU's site (the webinar is the first item under the NAHU Webcasts heading):
http://www.nahu.org/education/programs/webcasts.cfm?ibcToken=a0a490fb-9052-4c36-bd08-d7da54f8f2ef.
Just a couple of highlights (there were many):

• Premium subsidies and cost-sharing reduction subsidies will only be available via the Individual coverage exchanges (low-income people who buy coverage via a SHOP exchange are not eligible for subsidies)
  --
• Low-income people who have access to "adequate" and "affordable" group coverage cannot leave the group plan and buy coverage via an exchange
  --
• Employers will be required to help verify coverage in virtually any situation:
• Whether or not any employee purchases coverage through an exchange 
• If an employer doesn't offer coverage at all
• After an employee enrolls in an exchange (and likely every year thereafter)
  --
• The small-business tax credits currently available to any qualifying small employers will only be available after Jan. 1, 2014, to employers purchasing coverage through a SHOP exchange
  --
• If an individual state elects to allow "large" groups to access an exchange on Jan. 1, 2017, or thereafter, and even one large employer elects to participate, all of the SHOP exchange requirements will apply to every insured large group in that state.  Examples: modified community rating rules (no more experience rating for an employer's large group plan), minimum benefit requirements, guarantee issue, etc.
  --
• Private exchanges are not subject to SHOP exchange rules
  --

Many items that require further regulatory guidance are noted

We have partnered with our colleagues from UBA, and we are happy to able to provide you with the latest Employer Compliance Alert:

IRS ANNOUNCES 2013 AMOUNTS for HSAs and HDHPs On April 27, the IRS issued Revenue Procedure 2012-26, announcing the 2013 inflation-adjusted dollar limitations applicable to health savings accounts (HSAs) and qualifying high-deductible health plans (HDHPs). The maximum HSA contribution for an individual with self-only coverage under an HDHP will increase to $3,250 - up from $3,100 in 2012.  The maximum HSA contribution for an individual with family HDHP coverage will be $6,450 - up from $6,250 in 2012.  The "catch-up contribution" limit, for individuals who will attain age 55 by the end of the year, will remain at $1,000. To qualify as an HDHP, a plan must specify a minimum annual deductible amount, with that amount based on whether the coverage is self-only or family.  Those deductibles have also been adjusted for inflation.  For self-only coverage, the annual deductible must be no less than $1,250 - up from $1,200 in 2012.  For family coverage, the annual deductible must be no less than $2,500 - up from $2,400 in 2012. Finally, to qualify as an HDHP in 2013, the total annual out-of-pocket expenses (deductibles, copayments, and other amounts - but not premiums) may not exceed $6,250 for self-only coverage or $12,500 for family coverage. Sponsors of HSA arrangements and/or HDHPs will want to incorporate these new dollar amounts into their 2013 open enrollment materials. Chadron J. Patton, Associate Spencer Fane Britt & Browne LLP