Connecticut ICHRA Cost-Benefit Calculator

Compare ICHRA vs group health insurance vs ACA employer mandate penalties for Connecticut employers. Find the most cost-efficient benefits path with state-specific marketplace data.

Free • No Login • 2026 Connecticut Market Data • Penalty Analysis Included

Analyst Notes — Connecticut ICHRA Market

Marketplace assumptions: The premium figures, state cost factor and age-based estimates in this calculator are illustrative defaults. They are not verified 2026 CMS averages or current quotes. Use current local plan prices and employee-specific information before choosing an allowance.

ICHRA Adoption Trajectory: Moderate. Leading administrators operating in Connecticut: Take Command, PeopleKeep.

Regulatory Considerations: Access Health CT is the state-based marketplace. Connecticut has strong consumer protection regulations.

Subsidy assumption: The default 35% is an editable scenario assumption, not a verified state estimate. Actual premium tax-credit receipt depends on each employee’s eligibility, household circumstances and coverage offer. Adjust the share below to test sensitivity.

Planning considerations: Connecticut's higher premiums mean ICHRA allowances need to be more generous. However, the state-based marketplace offers good plan variety.

Step 1 — Your Connecticut Company

Company size determines ACA employer mandate applicability (50+ FTEs). Location affects marketplace premium costs and penalty exposure.

Prior-Year Average Full-Time Employees + Equivalents ?Use the prior calendar year’s average full-time employees plus full-time equivalents to screen for ALE status. This simplified screen assumes a standalone employer, no seasonal-worker exception and no controlled group. Part-time equivalents help determine ALE status but do not count toward the penalty base.Source: IRS Section 4980H; 26 CFR 54.4980H

Employees Eligible for Benefits ?Number of employees you plan to offer benefits to. This may be equal to or less than total FTEs depending on waiting periods and eligibility rules.Source: ERISA Section 3; IRS Final Rules on ICHRAs

Current Full-Time Employees for Penalty Estimate

Actual full-time people, excluding part-time equivalents. This annualized illustration assumes this count and the coverage conditions remain unchanged for all 12 months. The 30-employee reduction assumes one ALE member; controlled-group allocation and monthly changes require a separate calculation.

Average Employee Age 38 ?Average age of your workforce. ACA marketplace plans use a 3:1 age rating curve — a 64-year-old pays up to 3x a 21-year-old. This affects marketplace premiums and ICHRA effectiveness.Source: CMS Federal Age Curve; ACA 3:1 Rating Band

Average Household Income ?Used only for an illustrative affordability screen. Actual 2026 ICHRA affordability uses the employee-specific lowest-cost silver premium and applicable income or employer safe harbor; an average household income cannot establish compliance for every employee.Source: IRS Revenue Procedure 2025-25; ACA Section 36B

Currently Offering Group Coverage?

Current Monthly Employer Cost PEPM ($) ?Enter your actual monthly employer cost per eligible employee. The prefilled amount is an illustrative input, not a verified state average or insurer quote.

Step 2 — ICHRA Modeling

Design an illustrative ICHRA allowance, then compare it with current local premiums and employee-specific requirements.

Monthly ICHRA Allowance per Employee ($) $500 ?Set the monthly individual allowance. The prefilled amount is illustrative; choose a budget based on actual local premiums and plan requirements. ICHRAs have no general federal dollar cap.

Monthly Family Allowance ($) $1200 ?Set the monthly family allowance. The prefilled amount is illustrative, not a verified family premium. Apply permitted employee-class and allowance rules.

Admin Fee PEPM ($) $8 ?Enter a quoted monthly administration cost per eligible employee. The default is an illustrative assumption, not a verified market fee. Costs and included services vary.

Expected Employee Opt-In Rate 85% ?Share of eligible employees assumed to participate. The default is a scenario assumption, not a verified national average. Test different participation levels.

Step 3 — ACA Penalty Analysis (Section 4980H)

For applicable large employers (50+ FTEs), the ACA imposes penalties for not offering qualifying coverage. This section calculates your penalty exposure to compare against ICHRA and group plan costs.

4980H(a) Annual Rate per Full-Time Employee (2026) ?For 2026, the annualized rate is $3,340 per full-time employee after the applicable 30-employee reduction. Liability also requires the relevant coverage failure and at least one full-time employee receiving a premium tax credit. Full-time equivalents are excluded from this penalty base.Source: IRS Section 4980H(a); Revenue Procedure 2025-26

4980H(b) Penalty per Subsidized EE (2026) ?The "tack hammer" penalty when coverage is offered but is unaffordable or doesn't meet minimum value. Applied per employee who receives a marketplace premium tax credit. $5,010/employee for 2026.Source: IRS Section 4980H(b); Revenue Procedure 2025-26

Est. % Full-Time Employees Receiving Premium Tax Credits 28% ?Scenario assumption for the share of current full-time employees who actually receive premium tax credits. Eligibility alone does not trigger a payment. A zero estimate produces zero penalty exposure here.Source: IRS employer shared responsibility guidance

Cost-Benefit Analysis — 4 Paths Compared

2026 factors: IRS Revenue Procedure 2025-26 ($3,340 and $5,010 annually) and Revenue Procedure 2025-25 (9.96%). This is a constant-workforce, full-year scenario; actual liability is calculated monthly. The (b) estimate is capped at the corresponding (a) amount. See IRS eligibility, coverage and payment rules. The same assumed credit-recipient share is used for both penalty scenarios; actual take-up can differ.

Side-by-Side Comparison

Path	Annual Cost	vs Current	Risk Level	Notes

Risk Assessment by Path

3-Year Cost Projection

Employee Perspective: ICHRA Allowance vs Connecticut Marketplace

Est. Connecticut Silver Plan Premium (Self-Only)

Based on age + Connecticut market index

Employee Out-of-Pocket (After ICHRA)

Monthly gap or surplus

ACA Affordability Check

Connecticut Marketplace Insights

Marketplace Type: SBM (State-Based Exchange)

State Cost Index: 1.15 (above national avg — higher allowances may be needed)

Avg Silver Premium (Individual): $610/mo | Family: $1650/mo

Avg Employer Group Premium: $780/mo

ICHRA Adoption: Moderate

Top ICHRA Administrators: Take Command, PeopleKeep

State Rules: Access Health CT is the state-based marketplace. Connecticut has strong consumer protection regulations.

Connecticut's higher premiums mean ICHRA allowances need to be more generous. However, the state-based marketplace offers good plan variety.

ICHRA Cost Calculation: Monthly allowance x eligible employees x opt-in rate x 12 months, plus admin fees (PEPM x eligible x 12). Age and family variations are supported per IRS Final Rules (84 FR 28888).

Group Plan Cost: Current PEPM x eligible employees x 12 months. Projected at 8% annual increase (KFF 2025 EHBS historical trend).

4980H(a) Penalty: $3,340 x the full-time employee count after the applicable 30-employee reduction, annualized for 2026. Liability requires the relevant coverage failure and at least one full-time employee receiving a premium tax credit. Actual calculations are monthly; the reduction may be allocated across ALE members.

4980H(b) Penalty: $5,010 x number of full-time employees who receive marketplace premium tax credits. Applies when coverage is offered but is unaffordable (exceeds 9.96% of household income) or fails minimum value (covers less than 60% of costs).

Hybrid Path: Pay the 4980H(b) penalty + offer a minimal ICHRA. This models the cost of offering an ICHRA that doesn't meet affordability for all employees, resulting in some employees claiming marketplace subsidies and triggering 4980H(b) penalties.

Marketplace Premium Estimates: CMS 2026 baseline of $496/month for a 40-year-old, adjusted by Connecticut cost index (1.15) and CMS federal age curve factors.

ACA Affordability Test: For plan years beginning in 2026, IRS Revenue Procedure 2025-25 sets the required contribution percentage at 9.96%. This calculator uses average premiums and income as a planning screen, not the employee-specific lowest-cost silver benchmark or an employer safe-harbor determination.

Projection Assumptions: Illustrative assumptions only: group plan costs rise 8% annually, ICHRA allowances rise 3%, and penalty rates rise 2%. These are scenario inputs, not forecasts, verified historical averages or published future IRS rates.

Data Sources: IRS Section 4980H & Rev. Proc. 2024-35 (penalty amounts), IRS Final Rules 84 FR 28888 (ICHRA), IRS Notice 2024-55 (affordability), CMS 2026 Marketplace Premium Data, KFF 2025 Employer Health Benefits Survey, HRA Council 2025 Benchmarks, Connecticut Department of Insurance marketplace data.

Built on IRS Rules, CMS Data & ACA Penalty Schedules

This calculator uses official 2026 penalty amounts, Connecticut marketplace premiums, and published employer cost data.

IRS Section 4980H

ACA employer mandate penalties — $3,340 (a) and $5,010 (b) for 2026, indexed annually per Revenue Procedure 2025-26

2019 HRA Final Rule

84 FR 28888: individual-coverage integration, employee classes and substantiation requirements.

Premium assumptions

Illustrative state and age inputs. Obtain current local quotes and the relevant employee-specific silver benchmark.

Group cost assumptions

Replace the default employer premium with your current cost or renewal quote. Projection rates are illustrative.

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