IRS Rules That Employer-Sponsored Health Plans Must Cover Hospital Visits Under Affordable Care Act

On November 4, 2014, the federal Internal Revenue Service warned employers that health insurance plans that do not provide coverage for inpatient hospitalization services or non-physician services do not meet the qualifications for minimum value under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 (PPACA). The warning was issued because the minimum value calculator established by the federal Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) allowed employers to exclude inpatient hospital and non-physician services, but still meet the 60% benchmark for the allowed cost of plan benefits as a percentage of the actual cost of benefits. Employer . . .