2011 is rapidly approaching and still many businesses are NOT ready for the changes that are coming their way. Below is a legislative brief provided by The Ward Agency:
Expanded Insurance Coverage
- Voluntary Long-Term Care Insurance Options. The health care reform law creates a long-term care insurance program for adults who become disabled. Participation will be voluntary and the program is to be funded by voluntary payroll deductions to provide benefits to adults who become disabled.
Health Plan Administration
- Improving Medical Loss Ratios. Health insurance issuers offering group or individual health insurance coverage (including grandfathered health plans) must annually report on the share of premium dollars spent on health care and provide consumer rebates for excessive medical loss ratios.
- Reporting Health Coverage Costs on Form W-2. Beginning in 2011, employers will be required to disclose the value of the health coverage provided by the employer to each employee on the employee’s annual Form W-2.
- Standardizing the Definition of Qualified Medical Expenses. The health care reform law conforms the definition of “qualified medical expenses” for HSAs, FSAs and HRAs to the definition used for the itemized tax deduction. Amounts paid for over-the-counter medicine with a prescription still qualify as medical expenses. Costs for over-the-counter medications obtained without a prescription would not qualify.
- Cafeteria Plan Changes. The new law creates a Simple Cafeteria Plan to provide a vehicle through which small businesses can provide tax‐free benefits to their employees. This plan is designed to ease the small employer’s administrative burden of sponsoring a cafeteria plan. The provision also exempts employers who make contributions for employees under a simple cafeteria plan from pension plan nondiscrimination requirements applicable to highly compensated and key employees.
Medicare/Medicaid
- Medicare Part D Discounts. In order to make prescription drug coverage more affordable for Medicare enrollees, the new law will provide a 50 percent discount on all brand-name drugs and biologics in the “donut hole.” It also begins phasing in additional discounts on brand-name and generic drugs to completely fill the donut hole by 2020 for all Part D enrollees.
- Additional Preventive Health Coverage. The new law provides a free, annual wellness visit and personalized prevention plan services for Medicare beneficiaries and eliminates cost-sharing for preventive services beginning in 2011.
Fees and Taxes
- Increased Tax on Withdrawals from HSAs and Archer MSAs. The health care reform law will increase the additional tax on HSA withdrawals prior to age 65 that are not used for qualified medical expenses from 10 to 20 percent. The additional tax for Archer MSA withdrawals not used for qualified medical expenses would increase from 15 to 20 percent.
If you have any questions regarding how your business will be impacted be sure and contact your insurance agent today!
