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Defined Contribution Health Plans- An Update Bill Sweetnam Chris Keller David Levine October 19, 2006.

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Presentation on theme: "Defined Contribution Health Plans- An Update Bill Sweetnam Chris Keller David Levine October 19, 2006."— Presentation transcript:

1 Defined Contribution Health Plans- An Update Bill Sweetnam Chris Keller David Levine October 19, 2006

2 Overview Legislative Agenda  Legislative initiatives  What happens next year Recent Guidance  HSA final comparable contribution regulations  Recent IRS debit card guidance  Recent IRS HRA guidance Implementation Issues  Communication  Plan sponsor documents & ASO agreements  Trends

3 Legislative Initiatives Bush Administration Budget Proposals  Continued push to expand consumer directed health plans Health Opportunity Patient Empowerment Act – Ways and Means Committee  HRA and FSA transfer to HSA  Expand HSA contribution amounts  IRA rollover to HSA  Comparable contribution to non-HCEs Finance Committee Hearing

4 What Happens Next Year? If House stays Republican  Continued movement for more HSA legislation  Passage in Senate problematic – regardless what party is in charge If Democrats take over House  Possible reduction of HSA benefits  Veto of any cutback by President FSA rollover legislation price is too high – despite popularity in both parties Predict Legislative Stalemate for Next 2 Years

5 Final Comparable Contribution Regs. Recent Guidance Final comparability regulations under Treas. Reg. § 54.4980G (July 31, 2006) govern employer contributions to HSAs  Generally require that an employer make similar contributions to employees’ HSAs or pay 35% excise tax on all HSA contributions  Cafeteria plan exception allows the employer's HSA contributions to be subject to the cafeteria plan nondiscrimination rules under Code section 125 rather than these rules

6 IRS Debit Card Guidance Recent Guidance In Notice 2006-69 (July 11, 2006), the IRS adds three new methods for substantiating claimed medical expenses without the use of paper receipts  Inventory Information Approval System  Co-payment amounts that are not more than five times the dollar amount for a particular service  An explanation of benefits (“EOB”) from an insurance company

7 IRS HRA Guidance Recent Guidance In Rev. Rul. 2006-36 (August 14, 2006), the IRS provides guidance regarding distributions from an HRA to an individual who is not an employee, spouse or dependent  Domestic Partner coverage should not be affected as long as value of coverage is imputed to employee’s income at inception  Transition Relief Provided

8 Defined Contribution Health Plans Implementation Issues Participant Communications  Introduction of Defined Contribution Arrangements  Communication of the Evolving HRA and HSA Rules Plan Features  Debit/Credit Cards  Investment Funds

9 Defined Contribution Health Plans Implementation Issues Plan Sponsor Documents  Cafeteria Plan Document  Welfare Plan Document  Summary Plan Description  Funding Vehicle Service Provider Agreements  Administrative Services / Insurance Contract  HSA Services  Investment Management

10 Defined Contribution Health Plans Implementation Issues Recent Issues and Trends  HSA Option Versus HSA As Sole Plan  HSA ERISA Coverage  State Taxation of HSA Benefits  Internal Revenue Code Prohibited Transaction Rules  HRA Retiree Medical  HIPAA Privacy


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