Your inbox (physical, electronic, or both) is probably already piled up with plenty to do. Suddenly, the mail arrives with an official-looking envelope from the U.S. Census Bureau. Assuming it’s not already buried under half-a-dozen invoices, you open it and find a survey asking you to provide information about the health insurance you offer your employees. What do you do now?
While official government correspondence is usually worth a few extra blood pressure points, this one is fortunately voluntary.
What is this?
In addition to counting the U.S. population every decade, the Census Bureau likes to conduct various studies about individuals and U.S. businesses. One of those key ongoing studies is called the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (or MEPS). The MEPS inquiry seeks data on the types of health coverage offered, which employees are offered coverage, and the cost of such coverage.
Is this mandatory?
No. Although responses are not mandatory, the authoritative manner in which the document is delivered and the fact that the survey form itself does not say that it’s voluntary have led many to assume that federal law requires a response. However, these FAQs from the census website (particularly number 8) clearly reveal that the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey is not required.
Will my responses be made public?
Per the FAQs, they will not. All data is kept by the Census Bureau as confidential.
Why should I respond to this?
Whether to respond or not is up to you. However, as the FAQs note, the data from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey is used to help elected officials and other policy makers determine the state of health insurance coverage in the U.S. Presumably, the better data they have, the better decisions they can make. Therefore, while you may not receive an immediate benefit, over the long term, you may benefit from better-informed policy and regulatory decisions.
If you have any questions, please contact your HUB Advisor. View more compliance articles in our Compliance Directory.
NOTICE OF DISCLAIMER
The information herein is intended to be educational only and is based on information that is generally available. HUB International makes no representation or warranty as to its accuracy and is not obligated to update the information should it change in the future. The information is not intended to be legal or tax advice. Consult your attorney and/or professional advisor as to your organization’s specific circumstances and legal, tax or other requirements.