As the Trump Administration begins the rollout for changes to healthcare reform—namely a repeal and replacement of the Affordable Care Act—there appears to be changes in American opinions of the …
Health Care Coverage
-
-
Affordable Care Act
Does The Newly Revised HHS 2017 Calendar Suggest A Delayed ACA Repeal?
by Robert Sheenby Robert SheenWhile the Trump Administration’s proposed rule for market stabilization was circulated in the middle of February, also included were date changes for 2017 and 2018 by the Department of Health …
-
Affordable Care ActHealth Care Reform
The GOP Has Released An ACA Replacement Outline
by Robert Sheenby Robert SheenIt feels as though Americans have been waiting with bated breath to hear the latest in the repeal and replacement of the Affordable Care Act. A replacement outline is finally …
-
ACA AuditACA ComplianceAffordable Care ActHealth Care CoverageReporting
The ACA Exchange Appeals Process
by Robert Sheenby Robert SheenThe Exchanges in the Health Insurance Marketplace have been issuing out notices to employers. Each such Notice indicates to the employer that it may be subject to penalties for failing …
-
Affordable Care ActHealth Care Coverage
ACA Complexities Increase Among States
by Robert Sheenby Robert SheenAs the Affordable Care Act remains under the magnifying glass—debating on a repeal, replace, or fix—states are feeling the brunt of the confusion. States with the ways and means to …
-
ACA ComplianceHealth Care Coverage
Uber Decision in Florida and The Gig Economy
by Robert Sheenby Robert SheenIn a recent decision within the Florida courts, Uber was victorious in a misclassification case that left Uber drivers classified as independent contractors and not employees. It speaks to the …
-
Affordable Care Act
While GOP Advances ACA Repeal, Republican Senators Prep Tax Reform
by Robert Sheenby Robert SheenOn February 1, members of the Senate convened at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in DC, discussing a variety of topics from tax reform regarding import/export within the country’s borders …
-
Health Care CoverageMedicaid
Keeping Up With The GOP And Medicaid Expansion
by Robert Sheenby Robert SheenNew remarks from President Trump are now suggesting that the Affordable Care Act won’t see an immediate repeal or replacement until well into the next year. While that may be …
-
Affordable Care ActHealth Care Coverage
2016-2017 Healthcare.Gov Open Enrollment Figures: An Infographic
by Robert Sheenby Robert SheenFrom November 1, 2016 through January 31, 2017, Healthcare.gov launched its open enrollment period for new and returning consumers to obtain coverage through the Health Insurance Marketplace. Our infographic shows …
-
ACA ComplianceIRS
The IRS Audit Process Will Force Employers to Prove Their Case or Face Penalties
by Robert Sheenby Robert SheenPost election, in December of 2016, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) began to issue out notices to employers who may have failed to comply with the ACA. These notices appear …
-
Affordable Care ActHealth Care Reform
New Tool Gives Public a Voice in ACA Repeal & Replace
by Robert Sheenby Robert SheenBy Michael Z. Stahl, Guest Columnist Sr. Vice President of HealthMarkets There’s one thing that’s clear: The new President and Congress intend to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act …
-
Affordable Care ActHealth Care Coverage
The Fate Of The ACA In Kentucky
by Robert Sheenby Robert SheenWhile the Trump Administration is slowly putting the wheels in motion to repeal the Affordable Care Act, one state governor has been trying for over a year to do so …
-
Affordable Care ActHealth Care Coverage
As ACA Repeal Draws Near, The CBO Weighs In
by Robert Sheenby Robert SheenIn a report dated January 17, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) offered estimates on what would happen should the ACA be repealed. These figures range from premium prices to statistics …
-
Health Care CoveragePharmaceutical
President Trump Has Some Things To Say About The Pharmaceutical Industry
by Robert Sheenby Robert SheenIn January, the pharmaceutical industry found itself in a mini-crisis following a press conference at the White House in mid-January. Just a few days following his Inauguration, Trump accused pharma …
-
Affordable Care ActHealth Care Coverage
Trump Supporters And Healthcare: What Do They Want?
by Robert Sheenby Robert SheenIn mid-January, Republicans made the official first step in repealing the Affordable Care Act (ACA) by voting 227-198 in permitting the GOP to bring their bill for repeal of the …
-
Affordable Care ActHealth Care CoverageHealth Insurance Marketplace
The Last Day For ACA Enrollment Almost Went Unmarketed
by Robert Sheenby Robert SheenHealthcare.gov has been hard at work informing consumers of a continuous countdown to the end of open enrollment, advising to sign up for 2017 Marketplace coverage ASAP. However, at the …
-
Affordable Care ActPolls/Surveys
This Interactive Map Will Shed More Light On ACA Enrollment
by Robert Sheenby Robert SheenThe Kaiser Family Foundation often conducts surveys providing valuable information, more specifically in recent years surrounding the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Now, the KFF has released some interactive maps to …
-
ACA ComplianceReporting
ACA Reporting And The IRS: What To Know About The Letter You Received
by Robert Sheenby Robert SheenAt the close of 2016, the IRS letters mailed notices to employers, signaling the start of the IRS’s Affordable Care Act (ACA) audit process. Despite much talk of an ACA …
-
Affordable Care ActIRSReporting
IRS Commissioner Reports On ACA Stats For 2015
by Robert Sheenby Robert SheenWhile we are getting our information in order for the 2016 tax year, we received some clarity on the previous year from the IRS. The IRS’s Commissioner John Koskinen has …
-
ACA ComplianceIRS
Understanding Anti-Discrimination: The IRS Issues Final Rule
by Robert Sheenby Robert SheenIn the final rule from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) on Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, …
-
Affordable Care ActHealth Care Coverage
Hawaii Finds A Healthcare System Even Better Than The ACA
by Robert Sheenby Robert SheenAs of this month, Hawaii’s small business market will provide healthcare to its workers that competes with (and even beats) what the Affordable Care Act (ACA) has provided for Americans. …
-
ACA ComplianceAffordable Care ActHealth Care Coverage
Trump’s Executive Order on the ACA and Future Compliance Obligations
by Robert Sheenby Robert SheenOn his first day in office, Trump signed one of his first executive orders, entitled “Minimizing the Economic Burden of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act Pending Repeal.” The …
-
ACA ComplianceAffordable Care ActReporting
The Reality Of ACA Penalties Post-Repeal
by Robert Sheenby Robert SheenAs Donald J. Trump officially takes his seat as the 45th President of the United States, we inch closer to the reality of an Affordable Care Act repeal. While the …
-
Affordable Care ActHealth Care CoverageRegulations
The U.S. Gig Economy Will Suffer With An ACA Repeal
by Robert Sheenby Robert SheenIndependent contractors, freelancers, consultants. These workers have slowly risen up the ranks as backbones of many companies, yet when it comes to traditional labor rights, they’ve consistently come up short. …
-
Affordable Care ActHealth Care Coverage
An ACA Repeal Could Cost Hospitals Billions In Losses
by Robert Sheenby Robert SheenInauguration Day is inching closer and closer, and so are the policies that President-Elect Trump has planned once he assumes the seat of President this year. A repeal of the …
-
ACA ComplianceReporting
Some ACA Compliance Still Required By Employers Despite Possible Repeal
by Robert Sheenby Robert SheenAs conflicting opinions of an ACA Repeal continue to loom overhead, from the Republican viewpoint, a repeal seems inevitable. However, this does not translate to an elimination of ACA compliance …
-
ACA ComplianceHealth Care Coverage
Understanding ACA Compliance And Utilizing Staffing Firms
by Robert Sheenby Robert SheenBy now it should come as no surprise that maintaining ACA compliance is a confusing and at times difficult task. We know the basics: Applicable Large Employers (ALEs) with 50 …
-
Affordable Care ActHealth Care Coverage
Florida Governor Wants An ACA Repeal “As Quickly As Can Get It Done”
by Robert Sheenby Robert SheenOn December 19th, 2016, Florida Governor Rick Scott had a meeting with nominated Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, Tom Price. While Scott and Price barely met …
-
Affordable Care ActRegulationsReporting
IRS Releases Proposed Regulations For Health Insurance Provider Fees
by Robert Sheenby Robert SheenSection 9010 of the Affordable Care Act surrounds Health Insurance Provider Fees and the IRS has released some new proposed regulations for reporting information among other changes. See IRS REG-123829-16 …
-
Affordable Care ActApplicable Large Employer (ALE)Health Care Coverage
Terms To Know About Offers Of Health Coverage: An Infographic
by Robert Sheenby Robert SheenMany Applicable Large Employers (ALEs) were met with a few surprises in 2016 when it came to their employees’ healthcare. As companies were still finding their footing with required offerings …
-
Health Care CoverageIRS
The IRS’s Cost-of-Living Adjustments: An Infographic
by Robert Sheenby Robert SheenThe 2016 calendar year is closing out, and with it comes a variety of healthcare care related fee adjustments happening for 2017. The ACA Times has revealed the amounts we …
-
Affordable Care Act
Small Businesses Approved For Health Reimbursement Accounts
by Robert Sheenby Robert SheenMuch of the news surrounding healthcare as of late had included strengthening relationships with Applicable Large Employers and their sponsored healthcare. However, on December 13, the 21st Century Cures Act …
-
Indiana residents now have a concern about their healthcare, which perhaps they didn’t have before. In his past career as Indiana Governor, Vice President-Elect Mike Pence was one of the …
-
Affordable Care ActHealth Care Coverage
The State Of The ACA and Beyond: An Infographic
by Robert Sheenby Robert SheenIt should come as no surprise that a repeal of the Affordable Care Act has effects that will echo into a number of factors affecting Americans. But just how complex …
-
Affordable Care ActMedicaid/Medicare
With Trump In, Is Medicare Out?
by Robert Sheenby Robert SheenPresident-Elect Donald Trump has remained cavalier in his plans and directions for the healthcare of our nation. Throughout his campaign, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) was targeted for repeal and …
-
Affordable Care ActHealth Care Coverage
Rewinding The Clock: An ACA Repeal Would Put Money Back In The Wealthy’s Pockets
by Robert Sheenby Robert SheenAt face value, it’s difficult for many to comprehend exactly what a repeal of the Affordable Care Act would entail during the upcoming Trump Administration. For some, there’s really no …
-
Affordable Care ActHealth Care CoverageHealth Savings Accounts (HSAs)
HSAs And The Rich: A Perfect Combination
by Robert Sheenby Robert SheenPresident-Elect Donald Trump’s plans for the fate of our healthcare remains a work in progress. During the 2016 election, Trump stated that he fully intended to repeal Obama’s Affordable Care …
-
Affordable Care ActHealth Care Reform
Trump Picks Price and Verma to Lead the Charge to a Conservative Approach to Healthcare Reform
by Robert Sheenby Robert SheenDonald Trump recently announced his pick of Rep. Tom Price (R-Georgia) to head the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) quickly followed by his announcement of picking Seem Verma …
-
2016 Presidential ElectionAffordable Care ActHealth Care Coverage
Enrollment On ACA Healthcare Exchanges Hits The One Million Mark In Two Weeks
by Robert Sheenby Robert SheenAs we’re nearing the end of 2016, big changes appear to be on the horizon. Our President-Elect Donald Trump has been selected as the 45th President and while his plans …
-
Affordable Care Act
That Spike In Premium Rates Probably Won’t Affect Your Marketplace Plan
by Robert Sheenby Robert SheenFear of premium hikes comes with good reason. As those looking to renew their health plans from the Federal Healthcare Insurance Marketplace Exchange (Federal Exchange) under the Affordable Care Act …
-
ACA ComplianceEqual Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)
What Will Happen Next With The Gig Economy?
by Robert Sheenby Robert SheenIndependent contractors have gone from side help for employers to the backbone of many companies. The “gig” economy as it’s now called, includes any of said contractors who work within …
-
Affordable Care ActRegulations
The Verdict On UK’s Uber Employee Classification Case Is “Groundbreaking”
by Robert Sheenby Robert SheenUber has proven to be both a gift and a curse over the years. While the mobile car service app appears to have cornered a market previously held by more …
-
Affordable Care ActHealth Care CoverageRegulations
New Regulations Redefine Short-Term, Limited Duration Insurance
by Robert Sheenby Robert SheenWhile the nation was preoccupied with the 2016 Presidential Election, Congress was pushing on with more finalized regulations involving the Affordable Care Act. Last month, the Departments of the Treasury, …
-
2016 Presidential ElectionACA ComplianceReporting
With Trump Election Employers Still on Hook for 2016 ACA Reporting
by Robert Sheenby Robert SheenWith the stunning election of Donald Trump as President comes a serious question of what happens to the Employer Mandate under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), also known as “Obamacare.” …
-
Affordable Care ActRegulations
The Nondiscrimination Provision of the ACA: What To Know
by Robert Sheenby Robert SheenFinal rules implementing Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act was published on May 18, 2016, and go into effect on July 18, 2016. However, any changes to applicable health …
-
Affordable Care ActHealth Care CoverageTax Filings
ACA Compliance Difficulties? The 1940’s Started it All.
by Robert Sheenby Robert SheenThis past tax year, many employers experienced a whole new dimension to documenting and reporting information about their employees to the government. With the Affordable Care Act mandating that full-time …
-
Affordable Care ActHealth Care Coverage
Will ColoradoCare replace the ACA?
by Robert Sheenby Robert SheenNovember 8th is right around the corner. And while the onus of the day is placed on electing our next President, Colorado residents will have something else to ponder in …
-
Affordable Care ActUninsured
Study Shows Millions Of Uninsured Eligible Americans Are Still Underutilizing The ACA
by Robert Sheenby Robert SheenThe Kaiser Family Foundation has released another report surrounding ACA figures, and the results are astounding. In a report of “Estimates of Eligibility for ACA Coverage among the Uninsured in …
-
Affordable Care ActHealth Care CoverageRegulations
News From Washington: ACA Has To Tighten Up Pediatric Dental Care
by Robert Sheenby Robert SheenWhen it comes to healthcare under the Affordable Care Act, many points of coverage can often be an afterthought. QHPs, or “qualified health plans,” are required to fulfill ten “essential …
-
Affordable Care ActIndividual Shared Responsibility Payment
Individual Shared Responsibility Payment? Not For Everyone
by Robert Sheenby Robert SheenFor many, the Individual Shared Responsibility payment is another irritating factor of healthcare as it can add to yet another unforeseen financial burden to the pockets of Americans. However, we …