On Friday, August 31, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) issued much anticipated guidance regarding the application of the employer-sponsored health coverage mandate (often called the “play or pay rules” under health care reform). Employers need to begin planning for these rules as soon as possible. While the employer coverage mandate itself does not apply until 2014, it may be necessary to begin tracking the hours of employees as soon as this October in order to facilitate compliance.

The Play or Pay Rules Generally -

The employer-sponsored health coverage mandate is designed to require “applicable large employers” either to provide employees with adequate and affordable health coverage or to require those employers to pay certain penalties for their failure to do so. Specifically, penalties are triggered if...

Please see full alert below for more information.