Better Care Reconciliation Act – Key Takeaways for Employers and Plan Sponsors

On June 22, 2017, the Senate released its much anticipated health care reform legislation – the Better Care Reconciliation Act (“BCRA”) (linked to amended version released June 26, 2017). In many respects the BCRA is similar to the House of Representatives’ American Health Care Act (which was described in our March 9, 2017 and May 4, 2017 blog entries). However, the BCRA differs from the AHCA in several important respects.

As of the date of this blog entry, the BCRA does not have sufficient support to pass a vote in the Senate and House GOP members have indicated that they would reject the bill. Therefore, Senate leadership has delayed a vote on the BCRA until after the July 4^th holiday recess.  Nevertheless, as we provided for the AHCA, below are key takeaways for employers and plan sponsors and a few comparisons between the AHCA and BCRA.  A more detailed comparison between key provisions of the Affordable Care Act (“ACA”), the AHCA, and the BCRA is provided at the end of this blog.

1. Individual and Employer Mandates. Like the AHCA, the BCRA would essentially repeal the ACA’s individual and employer mandates effective after December 31, 2015. Both bills do this by “zeroing-out” the penalties for not having minimum essential coverage (individual mandate) or for not offering adequate minimum essential coverage to full-time employees (employer mandate). Outside of the effective repeal of the employer mandate, the AHCA’s and BCRA’s impact on group health plans appears to be minimal. However, if either the AHCA’s 30% surcharge or the BCRA’s 6-month waiting period becomes law, it is likely that plan sponsors will be required to provide notices similar to the certificates of creditable coverage required in the pre-ACA era

In the absence of an individual mandate, the AHCA and BCRA have different methods of incentivizing individuals to maintain continuous health coverage. Under the AHCA method, insurance carriers would be required to charge a 30% premium surcharge to those who fail to have continuous coverage (i.e., a break in coverage of 63 days or more would trigger the surcharge). The BCRA would require insurance carriers to apply a 6-month blanket coverage waiting period to any individual with a 63-day or more break in continuous coverage during the prior 12 months.

Outside of the effective repeal of the employer mandate, the AHCA’s and BCRA’s impact on group health plans appears to be minimal. However, if either the AHCA’s 30% surcharge or the BCRA’s 6-month waiting period becomes law, it is likely that plan sponsors will be required to provide notices similar to the certificates of creditable coverage required in the pre-ACA era.

2. BCRA Retains ACA’s Subsidy and Tax Credit Program. The Senate appears to have rejected AHCA’s elimination of cost-sharing subsidies and premium tax credits available only for coverage purchased on the Marketplace. The AHCA would have replaced the ACA’s program with an advance tax credit program available to individuals purchasing individual market insurance (not just Marketplace coverage) or enrolled in unsubsidized COBRA coverage. Under the AHCA, the amount of the tax credit would be based on age and would be available only to individuals with income less than $75,000 (individual) or $150,000 (jointly with a spouse).

The BCRA, however, maintains the ACA’s cost-sharing subsidies and premium tax credit program, albeit with some modifications. Under the BCRA, cost-sharing subsidies and premium assistance would be determined based on age, with younger individuals getting more assistance than older individuals, and income. Household income in excess of 350% of the federal poverty line would disqualify an individual from cost-sharing subsidies and premium assistance, in contrast to the ACA’s 400% threshold. Additionally, under the BCRA, the premium tax credit would be based on a benchmark plan that pays 58% of the cost of covered services (in contrast to the ACA’s use of the second-lowest cost silver (70%) plan). This lower value of coverage effectively reduces the amount of premium assistance an individual can get.

3. Employer Reporting Obligations to Continue. Although the individual and employer mandates would be repealed, it is likely that the ACA reporting obligations (Forms 1094-B/C and 1095-B/C) would remain in place, at least in some forms. As noted above, the BCRA retains the ACA’s cost-sharing subsidies and premium assistance, the availability of which is conditioned on an individual not being enrolled in employer-sponsored coverage. Therefore, the IRS would likely still need to obtain coverage information from employers.

4. Cadillac Tax Repealed Subject to Reinstatement. Like the AHCA, the BCRA effectively delays the so-called Cadillac Tax until 2025. The Cadillac Tax was originally slated to be effective in 2018, but it was delayed until 2020 in prior budget legislation.

5. Most ACA-Related Taxes Repealed. The BCRA would also repeal most of the tax reforms established under the ACA. Most relevant to employers and plan sponsors would be the elimination of the contribution limit on health flexible spending accounts (HFSAs), the ability reimburse over-the-counter costs under HFSAs and health savings accounts (HSAs), the increase in HSA contribution limits, and elimination of the Medicare surcharge applied to high-earners.

6. Popular ACA Reforms Remain. As was the case under the AHCA, the BCRA would keep many popular ACA market reforms and patient protections in place. These include:

• The requirement to cover dependent children until age 26;

• The prohibition on waiting periods in excess of 90 days;

• The requirement for individual and small group plans to cover essential health benefits;

• The prohibition against lifetime or annual dollar limits on essential health benefits;

• The annual cap on out-of-pocket expenditures on essential health benefits;

• Uniform coverage of emergency room services for in-network and out-of-network visits;

• Required first-dollar coverage of preventive health services;

• The prohibition of preexisting condition exclusions;

• Enhanced claims and appeals provisions; and

• Provider nondiscrimination.

7. ERISA Preemption for “Small Business Health Plans.” The BCRA would add a new Part 8 to ERISA for “small business health plans.” Currently, some states have enacted insurance laws that prohibit small employers from risk-pooling their employees in a single, large group insurance plan. New Part 8 of ERISA would preempt these state laws and allow the formation of “small business health plans,” which, generally, are plans sponsored by an association on behalf of its employer members. Small business health plans must meet certain organizational and financial control requirements and apply to the Department of Labor for certification.

8. Employee Tax Exclusion Remains Intact. Like the AHCA, the BCRA does not currently include a limitation on the employee tax exclusion that would result in imputed taxes to employees if the value of health coverage exceeds a certain amount. This absence, however, does not necessarily mean that such a limit will not eventually be imposed. It is possible that Congress will consider limiting tax incentives for both retirement and health and welfare plans when broader tax reform is considered.

9. HFSA/HSA Expansion. As mentioned above, the BCRA includes the same modifications to the HFSA and HSA rules as the AHCA. The BCRA would remove the annual contribution cap on HFSAs. Additionally, HFSAs and HSAs would now be able to reimburse on a non-taxable basis over-the-counter medication without a prescription. The annual contribution limit to HSAs would be equal to the out-of-pocket statutory maximum for high-deductible health plans. Spouses would both be able to make catch-up contributions to the same HSA.

It is still too early to tell whether the BCRA will fare better than the AHCA. In any event, we will continue to monitor legislative efforts and will provide updates as substantive developments occur.

Health Care Reform Legislation Comparison
Shared Responsibility	ACA	AHCA	BCRA
Employer Mandate	Applicable large employers (those with 50 or more full-time employees and equivalents) face penalties if minimum essential coverage not offered to 95% of full-time employees (and dependents) or if coverage is not minimum value or affordable.	No penalties for failing to provide adequate coverage.	No penalties for failing to provide adequate coverage.
Individual Mandate	Individuals subject to tax if not enrolled in minimum essential coverage unless exception applies.	No tax for failing to enroll in minimum essential coverage. However, effective for plan years beginning in 2019, a 30% premium surcharge would be charged by insurance carriers to an individual who purchases insurance coverage following a lapse in coverage of 63 days or more.	No tax for failing to enroll in minimum essential coverage. However, individuals who have a lapse in coverage of 63 or more days in the prior 12-month period will be subject to a 6-month coverage waiting period.
Reporting	IRC §§ 6055 and 6056 require reporting from issuers of minimum essential coverage and applicable large employers.	No change to ACA reporting requirements under IRC §§ 6055 and 6056. Additional Form W-2 reporting required.	No change to ACA reporting requirements under IRC §§ 6055 and 6056.
Market Reforms Advertisement	ACA	AHCA	BCRA
Dependent Coverage	If dependent children covered, coverage must continue until age 26.	No change.	No change.
Essential Health Benefits	Small group and individual market plans must cover 10 essential health benefit categories, as defined by benchmark plan established by state.	No change, but states can apply for waiver to establish separate definition of essential health benefit.	No change, subject to relaxed waiver rights under ACA § 1332 (State Innovation Waivers).
Annual/Lifetime Dollar Limits	No annual or lifetime dollar limits can be applied to essential health benefits.	No change, but states can apply for waiver to establish separate definition of essential health benefit.	No change, subject to relaxed waiver rights under ACA § 1332 (State Innovation Waivers).
Out-of-Pocket Maximums	Out-of-pocket maximum applied to essential health benefits.	No change, but states can apply for waiver to establish separate definition of essential health benefit.	No change, subject to relaxed waiver rights under ACA § 1332 (State Innovation Waivers).
Preexisting Condition Exclusions	Preexisting condition exclusions prohibited.	No change, but insurance providers must apply a 30% premium surcharge if individual has a gap in coverage of 63 days or more.	No change, but 6-month waiting period applied if individual has a gap in coverage of 63 days or more.
Preventive Care	Preventive care covered without cost-sharing.	No change.	No change.
Emergency Coverage	Emergency room visit at an out-of-network hospital must be covered at in-network rate.	No change.	No change.
Rescissions	Coverage cannot be retroactively terminated except in cases of fraud or misrepresentation or for premium nonpayment.	No change.	No change.
Summaries of Benefits and Coverage	Short (8-page) disclosure of plan terms and glossary distributed on an annual basis.	No change.	No change.
Enhanced Claims Procedures	Claims procedures now require additional claims procedures and voluntary external review.	No change.	No change.
Provider Nondiscrimination	Cannot discriminate against a health care provider acting pursuant to state license.	No change.	No change.
Section 105(h) Nondiscrimination	Fully-insured employer-sponsored health plans cannot discriminate in favor of highly compensated individuals (not yet effective).	No change.	No change.
Medical Loss Ratio	Individual and small group plans must spend 80% of premium income on claims and quality improvement. Large group insurance plans must spend 85% of premium income on claims and quality improvement.	No change.	Applicable ratio determined by the state (effective for plan years beginning on or after January 1, 2019).
Tax Reforms Advertisement	ACA	AHCA	BCRA
Cadillac Tax	40% excise tax applied to cost of group health coverage exceeding threshold (effective January 1, 2020).	Delayed until January 1, 2025.	Repealed effective December 31, 2019, but to be reinstated effective January 1, 2025,
Small Business Tax Credit	Tax credit for premiums paid toward group health coverage available to small businesses.	Not available for plans that cover abortion for plan years beginning on or after January 1, 2017; repealed for plan years beginning on or after January 1, 2020.	Same as AHCA.
Health FSA Limit	Maximum contribution to health FSA set at $2,500 (subject to annual increases for inflation).	Repealed effective January 1, 2017.	Repealed effective January 1, 2018.
HSA Distribution Penalty	Penalty for HSA distributions used for non-qualifying medical expenses increased to 20%.	Repealed effective January 1, 2017. Penalty would go back to 10% for HSAs and 15% for Archer MSAs.	Same as AHCA.
HSA Contribution Limits	No change.	Increased to match statutory out-of-pocket maximum for high-deductible health plans (effective January 1, 2018).	Same as AHCA.
FSA/HSA Over-the-Counter	Health FSAs and HSAs cannot reimburse over-the-counter products without a prescription (excluding purchase of insulin).	Repealed effective January 1, 2017.	Same as AHCA.
Medical Expense Deduction	Itemized deduction under IRC § 223 available for medical expenses in excess of 10% of adjusted gross income.	Repealed effective January 1, 2017. Threshold would return to 7.5% adjusted gross income.	Same as AHCA.
Medicare Surcharge	Additional 0.9% hospital insurance (Medicare) tax applied to high-earners.	Repealed effective January 1, 2023.	Same as AHCA.
Medicare Investment Income Tax	Medicare tax of 3.8% applied to unearned income.	Repealed effective January 1, 2017.	Same as AHCA.
Health Insurance Tax	Tax applied to insurance carriers based on premiums collected.	Repealed effective January 1, 2017.	Repealed effective January 1, 2018.
Health Insurer Compensation Deduction	No compensation deduction available to certain health insurance providers for compensation in excess of $500,000 paid to applicable individuals.	Repealed effective January 1, 2017.	Same as AHCA.
Medical Device Tax	Excise tax of 2.3% imposed on manufacturer, producers and importers of medical devices.	Repealed effective January 1, 2017.	Repealed effective January 1, 2018.
Branded Prescription Drug Fee	Manufacturers and importers of branded prescription drugs are subject to an annual fee.	Repealed effective January 1, 2017.	Repealed effective January 1, 2018.
Retiree Drug Subsidy	Amount received under Retiree Drug Subsidy must be taken into consideration when determining prescription drug cost business deduction.	Repealed effective January 1, 2017.	Same as AHCA.
Marketplace Advertisement	ACA	AHCA	BCRA
Marketplace Structure	Individuals can purchase insurance coverage on risk-pooled Marketplace established by Federal or state government.   Individuals purchasing coverage on the Marketplace may be eligible for cost-sharing subsidies and premium assistance.  Plans available on Marketplace (“qualified health plans”) must meet certain cost-sharing and actuarial value levels (i.e., gold, silver, bronze plans).  Qualified health plans must cover essential health benefits.	Effective January 1, 2020, cost-sharing subsidies and premium assistance are repealed. Additionally, Marketplace plans are no longer required to meet cost-sharing and actuarial value requirements.  Limited-scope, or catastrophic plans would be available.	No structural changes from ACA.   Marketplaces, including cost-sharing subsidies and premium assistance, remain intact with modifications. Advertisement
Cost-Sharing Subsidies and Premium Assistance	Available to individuals with household income between 100% and 400% of federal poverty line. Age is not a factor in amount of subsidies or assistance available.	For plan years beginning in 2018 and 2019, basic structure remains the same except that age and income are factors in the amount of cost-sharing subsidies and premium assistance that is available.  No subsidies or assistance is available for qualified health plans that cover abortion. Advertisement Cost-sharing subsidies and premium assistance repealed for plan years beginning in 2020. Instead, advance tax credit available based solely on age.	Available to individuals with household income between 100% and 350% of federal poverty line. Age is a factor in amount of subsidies or assistance available.
Premium Rate Setting	Small group and individual insurance markets may vary rates based only on certain factors, including individual or family coverage, community rating, age (3:1 ratio) and tobacco use.	Age ratio increases to 5:1 beginning January 1, 2018. States may apply to waive ACA requirements and base premiums on health factors.	Age ratio increases to 5:1 beginning January 1, 2018. State Innovation Waiver Program (ACA § 1332) requirements relaxed, giving states ability to waive many of the ACA’s market reforms.

This post was written by Damian A. Meyers and Steven D. Weinstein of Proskauer Rose LLP.