Updated guidelines set the 2020 federal poverty level (FPL) at $12,760 — up from $12,490 in 2019 — for a person living in the mainland US, but $14,680 in Hawaii and $ 15,950 in Alaska. Under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), the FPL can affect employer shared-responsibility (ESR) assessments in two ways:
2020 FPL affordability safe harbors. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) annually adjusts the FPL to reflect the year-to-year increase in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers. HHS issued the 2020 FPL figures on Jan. 17, so employers with calendar-year plans can’t rely on the higher FPLs for 2020 affordability testing. Instead, calendar-year plan sponsors must use the 2019 FPL amounts. As a result, the 2020 FPL safe-harbor monthly employee contribution limits for the lowest-cost, self-only MEC with minimum value are:
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