Employer Reminder – PCORI Fee Deadline, July 31
What is it?
The annual PCORI fee was established as part of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) to help fund research regarding the effectiveness of medical treatments so patients, clinicians, purchasers, and policymakers can make informed health decisions. Employers are responsible for paying the fee if they offer a self-insured plan. The fees are reported and paid annually using IRS Form 720, Quarterly Federal Excise Tax Return, and are due July 31.
PCORI Fee Calculations
On IRS Form 720, Part II, Number 133, the PCORI fee is calculated by multiplying the number of covered lives under each self-insured health plan times the applicable rate per covered life.
For the next filing, employers will pay the fee for self-insured plan years ending in 2025 with rates as follows:
- JAN 2025 – SEP 2025 $3.47 per covered life
- OCT 2025 – DEC 2025 $3.84 per covered life
Plans Subject to the PCORI Fee
Employer-sponsored Health Reimbursement Arrangements (HRAs) are considered “applicable self-insured health plans” that are required to annually file Form 720, Quarterly Federal Excise Tax Return, to report and pay the PCORI fee. Payment will be due at the time Form 720 is due. The deadline for filing IRS Form 720 and paying PCORI fees is July 31. You should always reach out to a tax professional with your legal questions to ensure you’re filling out your form and paying the fees correctly.
If you have any questions, please reach out to your WCIF Account Executive.
Legal Update – IRS Announces Health Plan Affordability Percentage for 2027 (Pay-or-Play Rules)
On July 21, 2026, the IRS released Revenue Procedure 2026-26 which adjusted the contribution percentage in 2027 for determining the affordability of an employer’s health plan under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) for Applicable Large Employers (ALEs). For plan years beginning in 2027, employer-sponsored coverage will be considered affordable under the ACA’s “pay-or-play” rules if the employee’s required contribution for self-only coverage does not exceed 10.22% of their household income for the year.
This means that an employer’s health coverage for the 2027 plan year will be considered affordable if a full-time employee’s required contribution for self-only coverage under the lowest-cost option does not exceed 10.22% of their household income.
Kaiser Permanente – Encourage Safe Time off in the Sun
Whether you’re on the go around town or traveling across the country, take these easy steps to stay healthy.
- Be prepared:
- Pack for the weather. Don’t forget sunglasses and a hat.
- Always bring sunscreen that’s SPF 30 or higher to help protect your skin.
- If you’re going abroad, check https://travel.state.gov/en.html for health notices and vaccination recommendations.
- Keep medications at hand:
- Refill your prescriptions before long trips. Talk to your doctor if you’re managing any conditions.
- Keep sunscreen in your purse, backpack, or carry-on so you can apply it every 2 hours.
- If you’re leaving the country, pack any over-the-counter medications you often use.
- Get care anywhere:
- As a member, you can get care when and where you need it:
- In-person urgent and emergency care
- 24/7 virtual care and advice using the Kaiser Permanente app
- Prescription refills
- Travel care help by phone: 951-268-3900 (TTY 711)
Click here to learn more about getting care away from home.
VSP Vision Care – 6 Toy Safety Tips: How to Protect Your Child’s Eyes from Injury
Did you know that 209,500 toy-related injuries occurred during 2022, nearly half of which affected the head and face? As parents, seeing your child’s excited face as they play with new toys brings great joy. But when choosing toys for your child, make sure to keep your child’s safety in mind.
You don’t have to let toy safety concerns get in the way of your child’s fun. Keep your home (and your family’s eyes) safe and bright with these toy safety tips.
Common Eye Injuries Caused by Toys:
- Corneal scratches
- Ocular hyphema
- Retinal detachment
- Ruptured eyeball
- Blindness
6 Eye Safety Tips When Playing with Toys
While eye injuries from toys are possible, fear not; a few simple steps can help protect your child and keep their eyes safe.
When choosing toys for your child, keep these eye-safety tips in mind:
- Choose Age-Appropriate Toys
Be sure to select toys that are age-appropriate for your child. On the packaging for the toy, it will indicate the age range for children using that toy. Be careful not to introduce toys before the recommended age. While it may seem harmless, certain components of toys intended for older children can pose a risk to babies and young children.
In addition, if you have multiple kids, be sure to teach your older kids to separate their toys from their younger siblings, being careful of toys with sharp edges, small pieces, or small batteries. Make sure to store any toys for older siblings in a closed box out of reach of the younger child.
- Avoid Toys with Sharp Edges and Pointy Toys
Examine toys for sharp or ragged edges or sharp points that could potentially scrape or stab the eye. Any toys with sharp edges or sharp points are a risk for young children. In fact, safety regulations prohibit sharp points in new toys that are designed for use by children under eight years of age.
Avoid toys like play swords, darts, and arrows for young children. Keep young children away from pointy household objects that they may play with unintentionally, such as pencils, pens, scissors, screwdrivers, nails, and silverware.
- Be Cautious with Flying Objects or Projectiles
Propelled objects can damage the eyes if they hit a child.
Here are a few precautions to help prevent eye injuries from projectiles:
- Teach kids to never throw toys or balls toward another child’s face.
- Avoid letting children play with toy guns, BB or pellet guns, water guns, slingshots, or other toys that shoot projectiles that could potentially hit a child’s face or eye.
- If your child is playing sports such as baseball, basketball, hockey, lacrosse, or racquetball, make sure your child is aware of the risks and wears proper eye protection.
- Avoid Fireworks or Sparklers
Celebrations like the Fourth of July and New Year’s Eve can be all the more enjoyable with fun traditions, like fireworks. But in the hands of kids, fireworks can be dangerous and cause severe damage to the eyes and even permanent vision loss.
Make sure the adults are the ones to handle and light any fireworks. And yes, that includes sparklers.
- Supervise Your Child When Playing with Toys
Make sure to keep an eye on your child when they’re playing, especially during the baby and toddler years when they aren’t yet ready to play independently.
When introducing new toys to your child, show your child how to use or play with them safely and as intended. And always remember, never put any toys in your baby’s crib.
- Store Toys in a Safe Place
When children are not using toys, store them in a safe place rather than leaving them scattered where a child (or adult!) might trip over them and fall.
Also, be sure to store any toys intended for older children in a closed, safe area where younger siblings cannot reach them.
What to Do in the Event of an Eye Injury
Even while being careful, accidents can happen. If your child experiences a toy-related eye injury, seek care right away from your VSP® network doctor. If a serious trauma has occurred, go to the nearest emergency room for care.
Thankfully, a few simple steps can help keep your child (and their eyes) safe and sound. If you have any questions about how to further protect your child’s eyes, talk with your eye doctor for more guidance.
VSP Vision Care – Sunglasses on Kids Are Just as Important as Sunscreen
The Impact of UV Rays on Children’s Skin and Eyes
Wondering why kids should wear sunglasses? Did you know the sun’s UV rays can damage unprotected skin in as little as 10-20 minutes? And people who have had severe sunburns have a higher risk of getting skin cancer later in life?
Many people know how important it is to protect kids’ skin from UV rays, but it’s just as important to protect their eyes. In fact, children’s eyes don’t have the same ability to defend themselves from UV radiation that adult eyes have. This puts their eyes at increased risk of damage from UV rays.
How to Protect Kids from UV Rays While Outdoors
Clouds don’t block UV rays, only filter them slightly, so taking steps to shield your kids’ skin and eyes anytime they go outdoors—whether it’s sunny or cloudy—is essential.
Here are some ways to protect children from UV rays while outside:
- Put on a pair of UV-blocking sunglasses.
- Apply sunscreen to exposed skin and re-apply regularly.
- Wear long sleeves when possible.
- Find a hat to wear outside (wide-brimmed preferred).
- Avoid being outside during peak sun hours.
- Play and sit in the shade when possible.
These simple steps help keep your children’s eyes and skin safe from UV rays.