New IRS Proposed Rules on Affordability and Minimum Value

On April 30, 2013, the IRS released new proposed rules addressing certain questions about when employer-sponsored coverage is "affordable" and when it provides "minimum value."

This Health Affairs Blog post provides an excellent summary.  Among other things, it discusses various safe harbors that the IRS has proposed to establish that a plan has minimum value.  For instance, minimum value would be established for a plan with "a $3,500 medical deductible, $0 drug deductible, 60 percent medical cost sharing, a $10/$20/$50 copay tiered drug plan, and a 75 percent coinsurance for specialty drugs."