IRS Extends Due Dates for 2015 ACA Reporting

by Gulfshore Insurance

Employers have gotten an early New Year’s gift from the IRS. On December 28, 2015, the IRS released Notice 2016-4 to extend due dates for the 2015 information reporting required by the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Employers will have an additional two months to furnish forms to individuals and an extra three months to file forms with the IRS. Read More

2016 Compliance Checklist

by Gulfshore Insurance

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) has made a number of significant changes to group health plans since the law was enacted over four years ago. Many of these key reforms became effective in 2014 and 2015, including health plan design changes, increased wellness program incentives and the employer shared responsibility penalties.

Additional reforms take effect in 2016 for employers sponsoring group health plans. To prepare for 2016, employers should review upcoming requirements and develop a compliance strategy.

This Legislative Brief provides a health care reform compliance checklist for 2016. Please contact Gulfshore Insurance for assistance or if you have questions about changes that were required in previous years.

Click here to view the 2016 compliance checklist

Patient Protection & Affordable Care Act: Employer Mandate Penalties Delayed Until 2015

by Gulfshore Insurance

The Obama Administration has postponed the Affordable Care Act (ACA) employer mandate penalties for one year, until 2015. The Department of the Treasury announced the delay on July 2, 2013, along with a similar delay for information reporting by employers, health insurance issuers and self-funded plan sponsors. The delay does not affect any other provision of the ACA, including individuals’ access to premium tax credits for coverage through an Exchange. The Treasury plans to issue more formal information about the delay within a week. To read the complete bulletin, click here.

New FCRA Forms, New Enforcement Agency

by Gulfshore Insurance

With little fanfare, the one-year-old Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has become the chief enforcer of the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) and has issued revised FCRA forms employers and consumer reporting agencies must start using no later than Jan. 1, 2013. … Read more

Health Care & the 2012 Election

by Gulfshore Insurance

Nearly three-quarters of Americans say that the cost of health care and health insurance will be an important factor in their vote this November. According to a new poll from the Kaiser Family Foundation, 44 percent of Americans said the cost of health care concerns them more than almost any other issue — only the job situation concerns more people (59 percent). And 73 percent said both the cost of health care and the future of Medicare would play an important role in their vote for president…. Read more