Employee Benefit News for School, City and County Employers

2021 Open Enrollment Checklist

Written by Rick Labian | Aug 7, 2020 3:13:24 PM

2 minute read

For plan years beginning on or after January 1, 2021, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) made some changes which may affect the design and administration of your plans. It’s important to communicate any benefit changes to your employees through an updated summary plan description or a summary of material modifications. Also, the open enrollment period is a good time to distribute any required notices, some of which are required annually or during an employee’s initial enrollment.

Here is a brief overview of some changes for 2021:

  • The ACA Affordability percentage for plan years that begin on or after January 1, 2021, is 9.83%.
  • The non-HDHP out-of-pocket maximum is $8,550 for self-only, $17,100 family.
  • The HSA Qualified HDHP out of pocket maximum is $7,000 for self-only, $14,000 family.
  • The health FSA limits for 2021 is $2,750.
  • Employers have two new HRA design options for plan years that begin on or after January 1, 2020 – an individual coverage HRA (ICHRA) and an excepted benefit HRA (EBHRA).
  • The new HDHP and HSA Limits for 2021 are:

Type of Limit

2021

HSA Contribution limit

Self-only

$3,600

Family

$7,200

HSA Catch-up Contributions

(not subject to adjustment for inflation)

Age 55 or older

$1,000

HDHP Minimum Deductible

Self-only

$1,400

Family

$2,800

HDHP Maximum Out-of-pocket Expense Limit

(deductibles, copayments and other amounts, but not premiums)

Self-only

$7,000

Family

$14,000

 

For more details, download the 2021 Open Enrollment Checklist.