Code Section 833

Code Section Effective Date Name of Act Name of Provision 10yr Revenue Estimate ($millions)
833 12/31/2009 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act Modification of Section 833 Treatment of Certain Health Organizations 400

Modification of Section 833 Treatment of Certain Health Organizations

Explanation of Provision

The provision limits eligibility for the rules of section 833 to those organizations meeting a medical loss ratio standard of 85 percent for the taxable year. Thus, under the provision, an organization that does not meet the 85-percent standard is not allowed the 25-percent deduction and the exception from the 20-percent reduction in the unearned premium reserve deduction under section 833.

For this purpose, an organization’s medical loss ratio is determined as the percentage of total premium revenue expended on reimbursement for clinical services that are provided to enrollees under the organization’s policies during the taxable year, as reported under section 2718 of the PHSA.931

It is intended that the medical loss ratio under this provision be determined on an organization-by-organization basis, not on an affiliated or other group basis, and that Treasury Department guidance be promulgated promptly to carry out the purposes of the provision.

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931- See Wednesday, March 24, 2010, Senate Floor statement of Senator Baucus relating to this provision, 156 Cong. Rec. S1989, stating in part, ‘‘First, it was our intention that, in calculating the medical loss ratios, these entities could include both the cost of reimbursement for clinical services provided to the individuals they insure and the cost of activities that improve health care quality. Determining the medical loss ratio under this provision using those two types of costs is consistent with the calculation of medical loss ratios elsewhere in the legislation. This determination would be made on an annual basis and would only affect the application of the special deductions for that year. Second, it was our intention that the only consequence for not meeting the medical loss ratio threshold would be that the 25 percent deduction for claims and expenses and the exception from the 20 percent reduction in the deduction for unearned premium reserves would not be allowed. The entity would still be treated as a stock property and casualty insurance company.’’ A technical correction may be necessary so that the statute reflects this intent.
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