IRS bumps up FSA, adoption limits, leaves others alone

By Jared Bilski

The IRS released the limits on flexible spending accounts (FSAs), adoption assistance and transit benefits for 2015. Here are the limits that will increase as well as those that will remain the same.
The most important change HR pros will want to note and let employees know about involves FSAs.

FSAs

In Rev. Procedure 2014-61, the feds increased the inflation adjusted contribution limit for health FSAs to $2,550 for the 2015 tax year. That’s a $50 increase from the current $2,500 contribution limit, and the first time the feds have increased the FSA limit since the Affordable Care Act capped contribution amounts.

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Tip Tuesday! Transitional Reinsurance Fee Filing Date Extended to December 5

By Linda Rowings

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) extended the deadline for group health plans to provide their 2014 transitional reinsurance fee (TRF) submission. Filing is now due by 11:59 p.m. on December 5, 2014. The January 15, 2015, and November 15, 2015, deadlines to pay the fee remain the same. For more information on the TRF, see our recent blog. For the answers to nearly 30 questions about filing, due dates, calculation methods, payment, submission and more, CLICK HERE to Request UBA's "Frequently Asked Questions about the Transitional Reinsurance Fee (TRF)".

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Obamacare delay provides relief — and an opportunity

By Jared Bilski

The most recent health-reform implementation roadblock involves a tool the feds created to help employers with administration issues. But problems with that very tool directly led to a delay that benefits employers.

In IRS Notice 2014-69, the agency clarified that certain health plans — commonly referred to as “skinny” health plans — that offer limited or no coverage for in-patient hospitalization services and/or physician services will not provide “minimum value” under the health reform law.
But there’s one major caveat in this announcement.

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Ouch! Asking candidates for family medical info costs biz $187K

By Christian Schappel

This company committed perhaps the cardinal sin under the commonly misunderstood Genetic Information and Nondiscrimination Act (GINA). 
All Star Seed, Inc., La Valle Sabbia and Abatti, three Southern California seed and fertilizer providers operating as a single employer subjected job applicants to inquiries about genetic info (a.k.a., family medical history) and medical conditions as a condition of employment, according to charges filed by the feds.
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) filed the charges, claiming the company’s practices violated GINA, which prohibits employers from making employment decisions based on genetic info.

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5-minute stress busters — for every season

By United Healthcare-Healthy Mind Healthy Body Feeling frazzled? Try these quick ways to tap some calming energy

It's certainly a hectic and harried time of year. But if you're like many people, that describes your average day too. You've got places to be, people to see and a to-do list a mile long. Really, who has time to relax? You're on the go, go, go. But while you're at it, stress can be zapping your energy. And over time that strain can take a greater toll. It can contribute to burnout and a host of health problems, including anxiety, depression and high blood pressure. So when you feel the tension building, take a few minutes and slow it down. You'll feel better right away — and you'll be caring for your long-term peace of mind and health too.    Five quick fixes You can take yourself from keyed-up to calmer with any of these steps: 1. Take a deep breath — or 10. Sit quietly, breathe deeply and exhale slowly — and try to let go of your worries. 2. Step out. If you can get away, take a short, brisk walk to clear your head. 3. Go to your happy place. Close your eyes — and imagine a favorite serene setting. 4. Tune out the tension. Take a few minutes to listen to some calming music. Or maybe rocking out is more your style. An up-tempo song — and some air guitar or pencil drumming — may do the trick for you. 5. Focus on the upside. When you're feeling overwhelmed, take a few minutes to think about all the blessings in your life, including your own good qualities. Are you stressed over a particular difficult situation? Try to picture at least one positive solution — and what steps you would take to make that happen.      Click here for article.

Tip Tuesday! Reference-Based Pricing and Cost-Sharing Limits

By Linda Rowings

The Department of Labor (DOL), the IRS, and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) have jointly issued a FAQ that addresses how "reference-based pricing" works with the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act's (PPACA) restrictions on out-of-pocket maximums. PPACA limits the out-of-pocket maximum a non-grandfathered plan may impose, and generally requires that co-pays, coinsurance, and deductibles be counted toward this limit. However, premiums, balance billed amounts for non-network providers, and non-covered services do not need to be applied to the out-of-pocket limit. (For 2015, the limits are $6,600 per individual or $13,200 per family.) The new FAQ explains how the out-of-pocket limit applies to plans that use reference-based pricing--i.e., a design under which the plan pays a fixed amount for a particular procedure (such as a knee replacement), which certain providers have agreed to accept as full payment.

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Can Employers Pay for Employees in Exchanges? No.

By Keith R. Mcmurdy

On November 6, the DOL issued FAQ Part 22, which directly addresses some recent efforts by employers to reimburse employees for participation in the exchange through Code Section 105, or through some type of other arrangement.  Here are the questions, with shortened answers.  For a complete copy of the notice, click this link.

Q1: My employer offers employees cash to reimburse the purchase of an individual market policy.  Does this arrangement comply with the market reforms?

No.  If the employer uses an arrangement that provides cash reimbursement for the purchase of an individual market policy, the employer’s payment arrangement is part of a plan, fund, or other arrangement established or maintained for the purpose of providing medical care to employees, without regard to whether the employer treats the money as pre-tax or post-tax to the employee.  Under the Departments’ prior published guidance, the cash arrangement fails to comply with the market reforms because the cash payment cannot be integrated with an individual market policy.

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