This week in benefits

As of the writing of this blog, still no peep from the Supreme Court on whether they’ll bypass the normal appellate process and the case challenging the constitutionality of PPACA’s individual mandate. Meanwhile, Idaho is taking a hard stance against heath care reform, with the Republican governor issuing an executive order prohibiting the state from implementing the federal law.

It wasn’t a surprise when Obama signed the bill killing PPACA’s 1099 provision last week. What left some people scratching their heads was how Congress intended to make up the $22 billion the 1099 provision was projected to generate over the next 10 years. E is for ERISA does an admirable job breaking down how H.R. 4 will make up the shortfall by significantly expanding the repayment obligations of modest earners overly subsidized with “premium assistance credits.” As the blog notes, “A family of four earning up to 400% of the federal poverty level ($89,400) potentially could owe $2,500 instead of $400 with their taxes in order to repay the government for the subsidy it received based on a prior year’s, lower income level.”