Thursday, May 31, 2012

Don't forget to budget for the Comparative Effectiveness Research Fee

Health Care Reform imposes $1/$2 fee on insurance companies and plan sponsors.  The IRS recently issued proposed regulations covering how to calculate the fee and where to submit the payment.

Read our ErisaALERT to learn more.

Friday, May 11, 2012

DOL requests stop loss information

In a recent ErisaALERT regarding increased DOL activity, we noted the DOL's interest in stop loss insurance even though the From 5500 filed in this particular situation did not indicate that the plan had stop loss insurance.

Earlier this month, the DOL issued a Request for Information Regarding Stop Loss Insurance. The DOL is primarily interested in stop loss coverage set at low "attachment points".  The DOL is concerned that small employers with healthy workforces could choose to self-insure and potentially worsen the risk pool for the fully insured group market as well as the Small Business Options Program (SHOP) Exchanges that begin in 2014.

Comments must be submitted on or before July 2, 2012.