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  • 2018 Cost-of-Living Adjustments for Welfare Benefits

2018 Cost-of-Living Adjustments for Welfare Benefits

The IRS has announced the 2018 cost-of-living adjustments for various welfare benefit dollar limits.  The 2018 limits are as follows:
Limit 2017 2018
Health FSA Contribution Limits
Section 125(i) limit on employee contributions to health FSAs $2,600 $2,650
 

Transportation Fringe Benefits

Section 132(f)(2)(A) monthly limit for transportation fringe benefits $255 $260
Section 132(f)(2)(B) monthly limit for qualified parking fringe benefits $255 $260
 

Adoption Assistance Exclusion/Adoption Credit

Section 137(a)(2) exclusion for adoption of a child with special needs $13,570 $13,840
Section 137(b)(1) maximum credit for qualified adoption expenses for other adoptions $13,570 $13,840
 

Both the exclusion and credit limits will begin to be phased out for individuals with modified adjusted gross incomes greater than $207,580 and will be entirely phased out for individuals with modified adjusted gross incomes of $247,580 or more.  These income levels are $4,040 higher than for 2017.


2018 HEALTH SAVINGS ACCOUNT AND AFFORDABLE CARE ACT (ACA) LIMITS

Earlier this year, the IRS also announced the 2018 limitations for Health Savings Accounts and the ACA affordability percentage.  The Department of Health and Human Services also previously announced the 2018 overall out-of-pocket maximum applicable to all non-grandfathered group health plans under the ACA.  The limits for 2018 are as follows:


HSA Contribution Limits

Single Coverage Family Coverage Age 55+ Catch-Up
$3,450 $6,900 $1,000


High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) Limits

Single Coverage Family Coverage
HDHP Minimum Deductible $1,350 $2,700
HDHP Out-of-Pocket Maximum $6,650 $13,300

ACA Out-of-Pocket Maximums

Single Coverage Family Coverage
ACA Out-of-Pocket Maximum $7,350 $14,700*

*
The Single Coverage Maximum applies to each individual enrolled in Family Coverage. Once an individual enrolled in Family Coverage incurs $7,350 in out-of-pocket expenses, the plan must pay 100% of the cost of covered in-network services for that individual.
ACA Affordability 2017 2018
Section 36B(c)(2)(C)(i)(II) affordability percentage 9.69% 9.56%
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