PCOR Fee Due by July 31 for Calendar Year Plans

Posted by BAS - 11 June, 2015

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The Affordable Care Act requires insurers and self-funded plans to pay a yearly fee to support health plan clinical research. The patient-centered outcomes research (PCOR) fee applies to plan years ending on or after October 1, 2012 and before October 1, 2019. The fee is due by July 31 of the calendar year following the close of the plan year. 2014 PCOR fees must be paid by July 1, 2015. 

PCOR fees are reported on Form 720, Quarterly Federal Excise Tax Return, for the second quarter of the year. The fee can be paid electronically or mailed to the IRS with the filing. The fee is tax-deductible as a business expense.

The PCOR fee is based on the number of employees, spouses, and dependents covered by the plan. The fee was $1.00 per covered life for plan years ending before October 1, 2013, and increased to $2.00 per covered life for plan years between October 1, 2013 and October 1, 2019. For plan years ending between Oct. 1, 2014, and Sept. 30, 2015, the fee is $2.08.

The insurance company will pay the fee for employers with insured plans. An employer with a self-funded plan will be responsible for completing the filing and paying the fee. 

Most health plans are subject to the fee. An exception is made for stand-alone dental or vision plans, EAPs, wellness programs, plans for employees outside of the U.S., HSAs, and almost all HRAs and FSAs. Click here for a chart explaining the types of plans that must pay the PCOR fee.  

Employers with self-funded plans should prepare Form 720 and pay the PCOR fee due.


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