Small Employers Can Reimburse Premiums and Medical Expenses

The 21^st Century Cures Act, which recently passed in Congress and President Obama has stated he will sign, creates a new ?Ç£qualified small employer health reimbursement arrangement?Ç¥ (?Ç£QSEHRA?Ç¥) effective January 1, 2017. The QSEHRA is a new form of health reimbursement arrangement (?Ç£HRA?Ç¥) that can reimburse substantiated medical care expenses, including premiums, of up to $4,950 per year (as adjusted for inflation) or up to $10,000 per year (as adjusted for inflation) if the QSEHRA reimburses family member expenses. The QSEHRA is available to an employer that (i) is not an ?Ç£applicable large employer?Ç¥ under the Affordable Care Act (?Ç£ACA?Ç¥) (which generally means having at least 50 full-time or full-time equivalent employees, determined on a controlled group basis) and (ii) does not offer a group health plan to any of its employees in the controlled group. Unlike ?Ç£regular?Ç¥ HRAs, the QSEHRA generally is not considered a group health plan for purposes of the ACA mandates or COBRA. Certain employee eligibility and notice requirements will apply. View the 21st Century Cures Act.