The 8 Most Popular Compliance Confidence Blog Posts of 2018

At the start of 2018, there was much uncertainty about the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and the state of health reform.

Over the last year, our team of compliance experts met the unpredictability head-on with steady, forward-thinking insights to help translate these changes to our clients. Housing over 65 posts, updates and webinars this year responding and interpreting the ever-changing landscape that is employee benefits compliance, the Compliance Confidence blog is more active than ever!

As the year comes to a close, we thought you’d be interested to see the 8 most popular Compliance Confidence blog posts of the year:

1. An Overview of the Affordable Care Act in Early 2018

   Annette Bechtold, SVP, Regulatory Affairs and Reform Initiatives

   January 1: As Congress wrapped up for the year, they left Washington successfully using a budget reconciliation action to affect change. Although the original intent was exclusively for healthcare reform, this sweeping new tax bill impacts specific Affordable Care Act (ACA) provisions along with other benefits and employer-related items. Additionally, legislators and regulators continue to work on other bills and rules that may change the delivery and compliance of healthcare plan offerings.

2. ACA Watch 2018: Congress Comes Through Delaying ACA Taxes

   Annette Bechtold, SVP, Regulatory Affairs and Reform Initiatives

   January 23: There was a dramatic end to the current Congressional tug-of-war regarding the government shutdown. Both the Senate (81-18) and House (266-150) approved HR 195 (115), the stop-gap bill granting additional government funding through February 8, 2018. This short-term funding fix is known as a continuing resolution (CR). With the President’s signature and the bill now signed into law, many government workers—out of work since Friday, January 19—are breathing a sigh of relief as they will now be able to report to work today.

3. Affordable Care Act (ACA) – Limits, Fees and Penalties Through 2019

   Annette Bechtold, SVP, Regulatory Affairs and Reform Initiatives

   November 11: The Affordable Care Act (ACA) contains a number of limits and penalties that apply to employers. These include the following provisions. With 2019 around the corner, make sure your organization is up to date on the 2019 Employer Mandate requirements, market rules for Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) and Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) and the new limits, fees and penalties to ensure your company remains in compliance going forward.

4. The Top 5 Compliance Tasks to Close Out 2018

   Erica Cordova, VP, Legal Counsel

   October 1: As we embark on the last quarter of the year, it is easy to get distracted by all the buzz of open enrollment, the holidays and planning for the next year. However, it is important not to lose sight of important compliance obligations. Check out our list of the top five compliance tasks to help you close out the year with a strong sense of compliance confidence.

5. Most Frequently Asked Employee Benefits Compliance Questions

   Erica Cordova, VP, Legal Counsel

   February 5: As employee benefit consultants, we see a myriad of compliance questions that arise in day-to-day benefit administration. There are some issues that always seem to be a pain point for most employer groups. We’ve answered eight of these popular questions to help your team address them with ease.

6. Understanding the Pros and Cons of Health Care Sharing Ministries

   Annette Bechtold, SVP, Regulatory Affairs and Reform Initiatives

   March 6: Growing in popularity since the implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) in 2014, Health Care Sharing Ministries (HCSMs) provide individuals with a unique option to obtain assistance with healthcare expenses. These reimbursement programs are available to both individuals and employers and operate very differently than traditional insurance coverage. HCSMs may be a fit for certain individuals. Before entering into these arrangements, it’s important to understand the rules of each organization, how they operate, and the associated benefits and challenges.

7. IRS Modifies HSA Family Contribution for 2018

   Annette Bechtold, SVP, Regulatory Affairs and Reform Initiatives

   March 13: High deductible health plans (HDHPs) may qualify for pairing with a health savings accounts (HSAs) if they meet all the IRS’s annual requirements. Likewise, the IRS establishes particular requirements for the actual savings account itself. As is customary, the IRS communicates the new limits prior to the beginning of each calendar year. On May 4, 2017, the IRS’ Revenue Ruling 2017-37 describes the following 2018 limits effective January 1, 2018, for contributions to HSA bank accounts.

8. The House Takes Action on Health Reform

   Annette Bechtold, SVP, Regulatory Affairs and Reform Initiatives

   July 30: To make good on promises to address the health insurance market by increasing choice and lowering cost, the House has taken some major steps this week. Following a flurry of bills addressing the opioid crisis this spring, from both House and Senate, the House now moves to other strategies to accomplish this task. The House is targeting certain Affordable Care Act (ACA) taxes and health savings accounts (HSAs) to begin addressing choice and cost concerns.

Our team of compliance experts is actively working to advocate on your behalf with the regulatory agencies to help reduce the administrative burdens related to the sponsoring of employee health insurance coverage. Subscribe to the Compliance Confidence Blog to receive regular email updates and allow OneDigital to help your team prepare to meet your regulatory responsibilities in 2019.