The Affordable Care Act (ACA) created a premium tax credit to help eligible individuals and families purchase health insurance through an Affordable Insurance Exchange (Exchange). By reducing a taxpayer’s out-of-pocket premium costs, the credit is designed to make coverage through an Exchange more affordable. The Exchanges are scheduled to become operational in 2014, with enrollment beginning Oct. 1, 2013.

On May 23, 2012, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) published final regulations to provide guidance on various aspects of the ...

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) requires health insurance issuers to spend a minimum percentage of their premium dollars on medical care and health care quality improvement. This percentage, or medical loss ratio (MLR), is 85 percent for issuers in the large group market and 80 percent for issuers in the small and individual group markets. Issuers that do not meet the applicable MLR standard must provide rebates to consumers.

The MLR requirements, which are enforced by the Department of Health and ...

On June 28, 2012 the U.S. Supreme Court essentially upheld the entire Affordable Care Act (ACA) as constitutional. Since the ruling, employers have had many questions about how this decision will affect them. Read on for the answers to a few of these FAQs.

What does this mean for ACA changes that have already been implemented? All of the ACA changes that have already been enacted, such as the requirement to cover adult children until age 26, will remain in effect. ...

On June 28, 2012, the last day of its current term, the U.S. Supreme Court announced its decision on the constitutionality of the health care reform law. The Court upheld the entire law, holding that Congress acted within its constitutional authority when enacting the individual mandate. This means that the health care reform law will continue to be implemented as planned and provisions that are already effective will continue.

The Court’s Decision

The Supreme Court ultimately ruled that Congress acted within ...