BASE^® Blog

Being able to provide an enhanced benefits package to employees isn’t just pure luck.  It takes a few steps, but then the employer is well on their way to saving valuable tax dollars and providing their employees with additional funds to combat the rise in health care. 

The Excepted Benefit Health Reimbursement Arrangement (EBHRA) is a cost-effective way that allows employers who offer a group health plan, to reimburse their employees an additional amount of money for premiums paid towards excepted benefits that are not covered by the traditional group health plan.  Excepted benefits are COBRA, dental, vision, short-term medical plans, and other qualifying out-of-pocket medical expenses. 

The BASE® EBHRA is for businesses of all sizes looking to maximize their tax benefits while expanding the benefits they offer their employees.  To enroll, employees must be offered the employer-sponsored group health plan, but do not need to enroll in it to participate in the EBHRA. 

How does the EBHRA work?  Check out the [lucky] 7 steps below:

1. Employer calls BASE® to enroll in the EBHRA
2. Offer employees the option to enroll in the employer-sponsored group health plan and the EBHRA
3. Employer establishes the reimbursement limit and the list of qualified expenses
4. Employees enroll in the EBHRA
5. Employees pay for their excepted benefits incurred by them and their dependents up to the maximum limit established by their employer
6. Employees submit a request for reimbursement with the required documentation
7. Employees receive reimbursement

With the Excepted Benefit HRA, it isn’t just the employer or employees that get “lucky,” they both benefit!  An employer has another way to maximize savings and tax benefits with all reimbursements being 100% deductible as a business expense.  Employees now have additional money to put towards their health care expenses that are not covered by their health insurance. 

For more information on the BASE® EBHRA, contact BASE® at 888.386.9680 or visit www.BASEonline.com. 

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With all the craziness and unpredictably of the past couple of years, there is one thing that is still looking strong heading into 2022.  Health Reimbursement Arrangements. 

A Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA) is a tool for business owners to increase their tax savings and provide employees with health benefits.  With five different HRAs to choose from, there is an HRA for all business types whether they offer a group health insurance plan, or their employees are responsible for individual health coverage.  Each one helps businesses fend off the rising cost in of health care and provide a more affordable benefits package for their employees. 

According to a Kaiser Family Foundation survey, about 59 percent of employers offer health benefits.  Other employers are unable to afford the cost of group coverage but would like to offer benefits to remain competitive in a tight labor market.  The HRA offers options to virtually every type of employer to offer some form of benefit option in the form of an HRA.  Looking ahead to 2022, BASE® has seen an increase in the number of employers interested in reimbursing employees for individual health insurance coverage with an ICHRA, while also seeing larger employers that are interested in reducing the cost of premiums by implementing an Integrated HRA.  Big or small, there is an IRS-approved HRA to expand benefits for business owners in 2022:

Section 105 HRA

The Section 105 HRA allows for small business owners, who can legitimately hire their spouse, deduct up-to 100% of health care costs, including individual health insurance premiums and qualified out-of-pocket health care expenses as a business expense.  This HRA is for employers classified as a Sole Proprietor, Partnership, C Corp, or S Corp. 

The business owner saves an average of over $5,900 annually in tax savings, helping to reduce the high cost of health care expenses. 

Integrated HRA

The Integrated HRA allows for businesses to couple with a high-deductible health plan to suppress the yearly increases in health care costs.  This HRA is for a business with a group health plan, looking to lower the cost of health insurance premiums, keeping their employees’ coverage the same, and supplementing their deductible costs. 

The employers can reduce the group health insurance premiums by 10-50%, reducing the overall cost of the insured plan. 

Qualified Small Employer HRA (QSEHRA)

The QSEHRA allows small businesses, who do not offer a group health plan, to reimburse employees for their health insurance premiums and health care expenses or just health insurance premiums.  This HRA is for businesses with less than 50 full-time employees who maintain minimum essential coverage (MEC). 

The employers can help their employees pay for their health care coverage, tax-free, with allowance caps, giving more control over the health care costs. 

Individual Coverage HRA (ICHRA)

The ICHRA allows employers to reimburse employees, separated into specific classes for qualified insurance premiums or insurance premiums and out-of-pocket health care expenses.  This HRA is available to any sized business looking to streamline benefits and cut costs without reducing value to their employees’ health benefits. 

The employers can choose the contribution level that works for their budget and save money by not providing a traditional group health plan to all employees. 

Excepted Benefits HRA (EBHRA)

The EBHRA allows employers to reimburse employees an additional $1,800 for premiums paid towards excepted benefits not included in the traditional group health plan.  This HRA is available to businesses with a group health insurance plan in place, but the employees do not have to participate in the group health plan to participate in the EBHRA. 

The employers can maximize savings and tax benefits and expand their health benefits package. 

So, what can we expect for 2022?  The HRA will still be a great option for businesses committed to providing health benefits to their employees while controlling health care costs.  With 5 strong HRAs available, 2022 will set up businesses to save thousands of dollars in tax savings, help their employees pay for health care costs, and provide a great benefits package.  For more information, contact BASE® at 888.386.9680.

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