Health reimbursement arrangements (HRAs) are employer-sponsored accounts that help employees pay for health-care expenses on a tax-advantaged basis. An employer establishes HRA accounts on behalf of employees and allocates a certain amount of money to them each year. Funds accumulate tax-free and are used to reimburse employees for qualified medical expenses such as health insurance premiums, routine medical bills, deductibles, and prescription drugs. Beginning in January 2020, employers can offer two new types of HRAs—an Individual Coverage HRA and an Excepted Benefit HRA.
Individual Coverage HRA (ICHRA)
Employees can use funds allocated by their employer to buy their own health insurance on the individual market, subject to certain conditions. ICHRAs can also satisfy the Affordable Care Act (ACA) employer mandate if they provide sufficient funding to be considered “affordable.” (Per the ACA, employers with 50 or more full-time employees are required to offer affordable health coverage that meets certain minimum standards.) ICHRAs may be especially appealing to small employers that want to offer health coverage but have found traditional group plans to be cost-prohibitive. The U.S. Departments of Health and Human Services, Labor, and the Treasury, which issued the new rules in June 2019, estimate that approximately 800,000 small businesses will offer ICHRAs to their employees.
Excepted Benefit HRA (EBHRA)
This type of HRA must be offered in conjunction with a traditional health plan. It allows employers to set aside a limited amount of funds ($1,800 per employee in 2020) to help pay for qualified medical expenses, including premiums for vision and dental insurance, COBRA coverage, and short-term, limited-duration insurance (not offered in all states). It is available even if the employee declines to participate in the primary plan.
Employees cannot be offered both an ICHRA and an EBHRA. Certain rules (including nondiscrimination rules), requirements, and conditions apply. For more information, review the new rules carefully and visit the FAQ page on the IRS website.
If you have questions or need assistance, contact the Experts at Henssler Financial:
- Experts Request Form
- Email: experts@henssler.com
- Phone: 770-429-9166
