HHS Issues 2015 Federal Poverty Guide

Larry Grudzien
Attorney-At-Law
January 22, 2015
 
Yesterday, HHS released guidelines for the 2015 federal poverty line (FPL) at $11,770 – up $100 from 2014 – for an individual living in the mainland US.
 
Under the Affordable Care Act, the 2015 FPL will determine the affordability of health coverage and individuals’ eligibility for Medicaid or public exchange subsidies in 2016.
 
Full-time employees’ receipt of subsidized exchange coverage can trigger play-or-pay assessments for the employer. Employers can use the FPL under one IRS safe harbor for testing whether their coverage is affordable to employees. If an employer has already set and begun 2015 contributions, it can delay using the 2015 FPL in safe harbor testing until the plan year beginning on or after July 22, 2015.
 
For a copy of HHS guidelines , please click on the link below:  
 
http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2015-01-22/pdf/2015-01120.pdf
 
For link to HHS website explaining the guidelines:
 
http://aspe.hhs.gov/poverty/index.cfm
 
If you have any comments or questions regarding any of the above information, please do not hesitate to call me at (708) 717-9638 or e-mail me at larry@larrygrudzien.com

Thank-You, Larry Grudzien, Attorney-At-Law