Christensen Group Insurance Article

Connect with us
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Search
November 30, 2022

PCORI fee amount adjusted for 2023

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has issued Notice 2022-59 to increase the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) fee amount for plan years ending on or after Oct. 1, 2022, and before Oct. 1, 2023. The updated PCORI fee amount is $3.00 multiplied by the average number of lives covered under the plan.

For plan years that ended on or after Oct. 1, 2021, and before Oct. 1, 2022, the PCORI fee amount is $2.79 multiplied by the average number of lives covered under the plan.

Applicability of PCORI Fee

The PCORI fee was created by the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and first applied for plan or policy years ending after Sept. 30, 2012. The fee is imposed on health insurance issuers and self-insured plan sponsors to fund comparative effectiveness research.

The PCORI fee was originally scheduled to expire in 2019. However, a federal spending bill extended the PCORI fee for an additional 10 years. As a result, the PCORI fee will apply through the plan or policy year ending before Oct. 1, 2029.

Payment Deadline

PCORI fees are reported and paid annually on IRS Form 720 (Quarterly Federal Excise Tax Return). These fees are due each year by July 31 of the year following the last day of the plan year. For plan years ending in 2022, the PCORI fee is due by July 31, 2023. Employers with self-insured health plans should have reported and paid PCORI fees for 2021 by Aug. 1, 2022 (since July 31, 2022, was a Sunday).

Calculating the PCORI Fee

The PCORI fees are calculated based on the average number of covered lives under the plan or policy. This generally includes employees and their enrolled spouses and dependents, unless the plan is an HRA or FSA. Final rules outline a number of alternatives for issuers and plan sponsors to determine the average number of covered lives.

Key Facts

Covered Plans

The PCORI fees generally apply to insurance policies providing accident and health coverage and self-insured group health plans.

Applicability Dates

The PCORI fee applies to plan or policy years ending after Sept. 30, 2012, and before Oct. 1, 2029.

Payment Deadline

PCORI fees are due for plan or policy years ending in 2022 on July 31, 2023.

For plan years ending on or after Oct. 1, 2022, and before Oct. 1, 2023, the PCORI fee amount increases to $3.00 per covered life.

This Legal Update is not intended to be exhaustive nor should any discussion or opinions be construed as legal advice. Readers should contact legal counsel for legal advice. ©2022 Zywave, Inc. All rights reserved.

About the author

Get the latest insurance articles sent to your inbox

Stay up-to-date with our latest insurance news and information.

Speak with an insurance expert.

Talk with us today