Blue Cross Groups Receive Emails From CMS About Transitional Reinsurance Fee

Several Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan employer groups recently received emails from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. The emails regarded the filing and payment of the Transitional Reinsurance Fee, one of the Affordable Care Act-related taxes and fees.

We reached out to CMS to confirm these emails were legitimate and then received more guidance to help groups reply to these emails.

Employers should:
1. Go to reinsurancecontributions.secure.force.com,* which was listed in the email.
2. Provide the case ID shown in the email.
3. Confirm their legal business name is the same as the one on the website.

After completing the information above, the group will be asked a series of questions and then asked to provide more data. This decision tree offers a preview of the questions that will be asked and the data that will be needed.

Before replying to CMS, Blue Cross advises groups to consult a tax or legal adviser to help them interpret the communications and determine if they are responsible for paying the reinsurance fee.

Fully insured groups
For Blue Cross or Blue Care Network fully insured plans, we are responsible for paying certain federal and state taxes and fees based on premiums billed, claims paid and number of people covered. Blue Cross and BCN are not responsible for paying any taxes and fees for plans the group offers its employees from other health insurance carriers.

Self-funded groups
For Blue Cross or BCN self-funded plans, we are not responsible for paying the taxes and fees related to the ACA. The employer is responsible for paying ACA taxes and fees that apply to its group health plan.

*Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and Blue Care Network do not control this website or endorse its general content.

Questions? Contact your Blues sales representative or managing agent.