Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois



January 18, 2013

Legislative Update: IRS Releases FAQ on Employer Shared Responsibility

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) recently issued proposed rules regarding the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) Employer Shared Responsibility provisions. Under these provisions, an employer with 50 or more full-time employees, including full-time equivalents, may have to pay a penalty to the IRS if it fails to offer Minimum Essential Coverage to its employees (and dependents), or offers Minimum Essential Coverage to its employees (and dependents) but that coverage is either not “affordable” or lacks “minimum value.” These provisions go into effect in 2014.

As a supplement to these recently released proposed rules, the IRS also issued a series of 23 questions and answers concerning the employer shared responsibility provisions, in order to assist employers in understanding these new requirements.

Among the topics the FAQ covers are:

  • Basics of the Employer Shared Responsibility provisions
  • Which employers are subject to the Employer Shared Responsibility provisions
  • Liability for the Employer Shared Responsibility payment
  • Calculation of the Employer Shared Responsibility payment
  • Making an Employer Shared Responsibility payment
  • Transition relief for certain employers
.

A Division of Health Care Service Corporation, a Mutual Legal Reserve Company,
an Independent Licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.