21st Century Cures Act Provides for Small Employer Health Reimbursed Arrangement
"The 21st Century Cures Act, signed into law on December 13, 2016, provides investments in medical technology research to fight certain diseases like Alzheimer’s and cancer as well as mental health issues. In addition to this research, the Act allows eligible small employers the opportunity to make available Health Reimbursement Arrangements (HRAs) to their employee, funded by the employer. The maximum reimbursement under this new plan is $4,950 or $10,000 for family members under the plan of the employee. An employer is eligible to establish a small employer health reimbursement arrangement if that employer (i) is not subject to the employer mandate under the Affordable Care Act (i.e., less than 50 full time employees), (ii) does not offer a group health plan to any employees, (iii) provides the plan on the same terms to all eligible employees, (iv) and makes reimbursements under an accountable arrangement. The bill does allow for some variation on eligible employees based on the age of the eligible employee or the number of family members covered under the arrangement.
To learn more about this new law, the statutory language is available starting at page 824."