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The IRS has extended the due dates for furnishing 2016 Forms 1095-B and 1095-C to covered individuals and full-time employees, respectively, from January 31, 2017, to March 2, 2017. In addition, the IRS is also extending good faith penalty relief to reporting entities who can show they made good faith efforts to comply with the calendar year 2016 information reporting requirements. However, the deadline to file 2016 Forms 1094-B, 1095-B, 1094-C, and 1095-C with the IRS was not extended, and remains February 28, 2017 (or March 31, 2017, if filing electronically). Source: HR360

Drew Altman writes on increasing deductible costs, “which are transforming the nature of health insurance from more comprehensive coverage to skimpier insurance with higher out-of-pocket costs.” 

Be sure your organization is staying up-to-date on the most recent changes to the Affordable Care Act. HR360 has just announced changes to Pay or Play for 2016, out-of-pocket maximums for 2018, and Forms 1094-B and 1095-B instructions.

Michael Z. Stahl recently wrote for Forbes, “a 2014 survey by the National Small Business Association found that small employers spend an average of 13 hours or $1,274 a month just to keep up with Affordable Care Act compliance.” 

"With health care costs jumping in 2016, Americans should prepare for the unexpected," writes Lucy Mueller for Forbes.

House Republicans released a white paper outlining their plan to provide “High Quality Health Care for All” – the GOP’s proposed approach to replace the ACA. Tracy Watts broke down the new plan for Mercer Signal.

"Millennials, the growing majority in today's workforce, want benefits that pertain to them. Are you offering them?" - a question from Jeff Oldham, who wrote for Benefits Pro about what Millennials want in the workplace.

Peter Ubel writes for Forbes about the cost-benefit decisions doctors and patients must make in the face of rising out-of-pocket healthcare costs.