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Home Affordable Care Act ACA and Healthcare Grow in Popularity as Midterms Draw Near

ACA and Healthcare Grow in Popularity as Midterms Draw Near

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by Robert Sheen
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2 minute read:

Studies show that voters have prioritized healthcare as a top issue to be addressed in the upcoming 2018 midterm elections in November.

For the first time in its nearly eight-year lifespan, the approval ratings for the Affordable Care Act (ACA) in the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) tracking poll in March were slightly above 50% and teetering on the record breaking rating of 54% that it hit in February. Currently, the disapproval rating is at 43%.

While the approval ratings for the ACA are high, Americans also want to see changes made to certain parts of the law, such as pricing of prescription drugs. According to KFF, just over half of the population would like to see a reduction in the price for prescription drugs as a top priority to be addressed, with roughly 80% of Americans feeling that the price of prescription medicine is at an unreasonable price. At the bottom of the list in the KFF polling is any further effort to repeal and replace the ACA.

While Congressional Republicans have been successful in nullifying the ACA’s individual mandate starting in 2019improve the ACA on a state level. California has proposed a new bill to cap the medical expense rates; Maryland has already passed a bill for a reinsurance program to start in 2019; Minnesota, Oregon, and Alaska are planning a similar approach. Some states, like New Jersey and Maryland, are looking to implement their own state level individual mandate.

The reality is that there is a growing appreciation for the ACA among Americans. Many states are taking action to offset changes to the law being promulgated by the Trump administration. Amidst all this change, one thing remains in place, the ACA’s employer mandate.

Under the employer mandate, applicable large employers (ALEs) or organizations with 50 or more full-time employees and full-time equivalent employees are required to offer minimum essential coverage to at least 95% of their full-time workforce (and their dependents) whereby such coverage meets minimum value and is affordable for the employee or be subject to IRS 4980H penalties.

If your organization is an ALE, continue to extend offers of health coverage and seek out outside consultation if you are unsure on the best way to do so and on how to comply with the ACA. The IRS is continuing to enforce the ACA’s employer mandate with organizations that it believes have not complied with the law for 2015. The IRS began sending out 226J enforcement notices for 2015 reporting late last year and is continuing to do so. It’s anticipated that Letter 226J enforcement notices for 2016 reporting will begin to be issued later this year. If your organization has received an ACA penalty assessment in the form of Letter 226J, learn more on how to respond.

As popularity for the ACA continues, the employer mandate will remain intact and with it the responsibilities for ALEs to comply with the law.

We’re committed to helping companies reduce risk, avoid penalties, and achieve 100% ACA compliance. For questions about the ACA contact us here.

Summary
ACA and Healthcare Grow in Popularity as Midterms Draw Near
Article Name
ACA and Healthcare Grow in Popularity as Midterms Draw Near
Description
The 2018 midterm elections are just around the corner. President Trump’s and Congressional Republicans’ decisions on the ACA are expected to be contested as popularity for the ACA increases.
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Publisher Name
The ACA Times
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