Weekend Update

This week we enter into the second week of Federal Benefits Open Season. This opportunity to enroll for the FEHBP or FEDVIP plans and sign up for the federal employee flexible benefits programs (FSAFeds) for the coming year ends on December 9.

Congress is in session this week. The Hill's Floor Watch blog provides an overview of its activities.

The IRS will be holding public hearings this week on the complex reporting rules that the Affordable Care Act imposes on health plans (Section 6055) and large employers (Section 6056) to implement the law's individual and employer shared responsibility mandates. The Section 6056 hearing will be held tomorrow and the Section 6055 hearing will be held on Tuesday. Both hearings will be held in the IRS Building's auditorium, 1111 Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC, beginning at 10 am.  The FEHBlog took a gander at the employer and health insurer comments on those rules (available on regulations.gov - docket no. 2013-21791). Here are links to the AHIP and National Health Underwriters Association comments which give you a flavor for industry concerns that will be raised at the hearings.