Health Care Reform - Affordable Care Act
IRS Forms for 2021
Form 1095 for the Affordable Care Act is often called the “W-2 of benefits”.
You will only receive this form if you are a benefit-eligible employee with the University or had University-sponsored elected coverage at any point in the previous calendar year. These forms are similar to your W-2 and while not required to file your tax return, they may be required when filing your taxes with the IRS in future years. The 1095-C will be mailed to your home address from Equifax, Penn State’s partner in 1095 form administration, unless you previously elected to receive this form electronically.
Information Regarding the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA)
The following is an overview regarding how a part-time Penn State employee may become eligible under ACA regulations.
To be eligible for a healthcare plan under ACA, you must have an average of 30 hours of service per weekduring a standard measurement period from October 15 of the current year through October 14 of the following year. Provided an employee has attained an average of 30 hours per week required to qualify under ACA regulation, an offering of a healthcare plan for the following plan year of January 1 through December 31 would be made. You will remain eligible for the plan year in which you qualify provided you remain an active employee with the University. Should you qualify in the future under the above ACA guidelines, you will be notified by Penn State Employee Benefits via Workday of your eligibility.
Newly hired part-time employees will be measured slightly different during their first year of employment. An initial measurement period of eleven (11) months from a new hire’s start date will determine the average weekly hours worked. Provided a new hire works an average of 30 or more hours per week during the initial measurement period, an offer of ACA healthcare plan coverage will be made to the new employee for an initial stability period of one (1) year from the effective start date of ACA healthcare plan coverage. The offer of ACA healthcare plan coverage will be made and have an effective start date within 60 days of the end of the initial measurement period. During the same period that a newly hired employee has their initial measurement period, they will also begin to be measured for eligibility purposes during the most recent standard measurement period utilized to measure hours as for all other Penn State employees.
If you are a variable hour, part-time employee and feel you meet the qualifications for health care coverage under the Affordable Care Act but have not received an offer of coverage, please call HR Services at (814) 865-1473.
An important note regarding your healthcare plan coverage availability:
Penn State wants to make sure that employees are well-informed about the change in options that are now available to them. It is possible that you may qualify for a lower rate, which could be even greater when coupled with a tax subsidy, through the state and federally-operated Marketplace.
Beginning October 1, 2013, the federal government opened the Public Health Insurance Marketplace with more than 20 million people having enrolled in Marketplace coverage. Please visit https://www.healthcare.gov to view the current Marketplace open enrollment period.
Did you know? Based on the available Marketplace healthcare plans, and potential tax subsidies for which you may qualify, you could pay less for similar health insurance coverage through the Marketplace than you pay for your medical plan through Penn State. We encourage all of our part-time, benefit-eligible and/or ACA eligible employees to visit https://www.healthcare.gov to learn more information about, or enroll in, the Public Health Insurance Marketplace.
Did you know? You can find sample health insurance plans and rates from the Marketplace. By visiting the following web address, https://www.healthcare.gov/how-much-will-marketplace-insurance-cost, you can review information through a simple, interactive questionnaire by click on the link for “Find plans and sample prices.” After answering a few of the questions regarding the type of plan(s) you are looking for, the tool will provide the most applicable plan(s) for your situation, along with sample prices. These sample prices do not reflect any tax subsidy that you may be eligible for through the Marketplace.
Did you know? Based on your family income, you may qualify for a federal tax subsidy to help pay for the cost of your health insurance coverage through the Marketplace. You can find additional information regarding these tax subsidies and use a calculator to estimate a potential tax subsidy that you could qualify for at the below web addresses.
http://kff.org/interactive/subsidy-calculator/
Did you know? The Marketplace can help individuals navigate the Medicaid program and/or Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). For families with limited income, the Marketplace will review the information and share it with the appropriate state agencies if it looks like you qualify. Based on the state agency review, you would be contacted regarding eligibility for the Medicaid and/or CHIP programs.
For more details regarding ACA, visit the United States Department of Labor Consumer Information on the Affordable Care Act: https://www.dol.gov/agencies/ebsa/laws-and-regulations/laws/affordable-care-act.
What you'll learn when you apply in the Health Insurance Marketplace
When you use the Health Insurance Marketplace, you'll fill out an application and see all the health plans available in your area. You'll provide some information about your household size and income to find out if you can get lower costs on your monthly premiums for private insurance plans. You'll learn if you qualify for lower out-of-pocket costs.
The Marketplace will also tell you if you qualify for free or low-cost coverage available through Medicaid or the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP).
Most Americans will be eligible to use the Marketplace. Learn more about Marketplace eligibility.
The Health Insurance Marketplace is sometimes known as the health insurance "exchange."
What plans in the Marketplace cover
Insurance plans in the Marketplace are offered by private companies. They cover the same core set of benefits called essential health benefits. No plan can turn you away or charge you more because you have an illness or medical condition. They must cover treatments for these conditions. Plans can't charge women more than men for the same plan. Many preventive services are covered at no cost to you.
How the Marketplace presents plan information
The Marketplace simplifies your search for health coverage by gathering the options available in your area in one place. You can compare plans based on price, benefits, and other features important to you before you make a choice. Plans will be presented in four categories – bronze, silver, gold, and platinum – to make comparing them easier.
In the Marketplace, information about prices and benefits will be written in simple language. You get a clear picture of what premiums you'd pay and what benefits and protections you'd get before you enroll. Compare plans based on what's important to you, and choose the combination of price and coverage that fits your needs and budget.
Apply online, by mail, or in-person
Health Insurance Marketplace in Pennsylvania
If you live in Pennsylvania, you’ll use the website, https://www.healthcare.gov, to apply for coverage, compare plans, and enroll.
You can apply for Marketplace coverage three ways: online using the website above, by mail, or in-person with the help of a Navigator or other qualified helper. Telephone help and online chat are available 24/7 to help you complete your application. Downloadable and paper applications will be available October 1.
Through the website, you can also learn about your options if you need coverage that begins before January 1, 2018.
Questions? Visit www.HealthCare.gov; or call 1-800-318-2596, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. (TTY: 1-855-889-4325)