Reminder: Comparative Effectiveness Research Fee due July 31

The Affordable Care Act imposes an annual fee called the Comparative Effectiveness Research Fee (CERF) on insurers and plan sponsors of self-insured coverage to help fund the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute. The fee is calculated by the average number of covered lives under a plan. It is paid using IRS Form 720 and submitting it by July 31 each year for the plan year ending in the preceding calendar year. As a reminder, employers must use their ERISA plan year if it is different from the renewal date.

Membership Reports to Support Self-Funded Employers.

Cigna provides self-service reports at no cost to help self-funded employers determine their average covered lives. Reports can be accessed through CignaAccess or Client Resource Portal (CRP). Employers who have Cigna Behavioral Health, Voluntary or Global Health Benefits plans can request these reports through their Cigna representative.

CERF Resources
For more information on CERF, including the payment process and sample membership reports, visit our CERF Toolkit.

If you have additional questions about the fee, please contact Cigna's ASO PPACA Fees & Reporting Resources team by calling 1-855-275-0555, from 9 a.m. till 6:30 p.m., EST, Monday through Friday, or by emailing ASO_PPACA_Fees&Reporting@Cigna.com.