Affordable Care Act

The Texas Association of Counties Health and Employee Benefits Pool (TAC HEBP) is pleased to provide guidance for understanding the Affordable Care Act—commonly known as health care reform. The Pool provides updates and education about health care reform at many TAC and county official conferences across the state.

We have staff available to answer your questions regarding the major parts of the law, including:

  • Health insurance marketplaces (also known as Public Exchanges)
  • Health plan requirements and cost-sharing restrictions
  • The employer mandate
  • The individual mandate
  • The excise tax, or “Cadillac tax”

General Overview of ACA

Download this helpful presentation, which provides a general overview of ACA forms, codes and employer responsibility.


ACA Reporting & Tracking Services (ARTS)

To assist with meeting the reporting requirements of the ACA, TAC HEBP offers counties and districts help through the Pool’s ACA Reporting and Tracking Service (ARTS).

The ARTS program includes the following services:

  • Measurement, Administrative, and Stability Period tracking and notification of eligibility for part-time, variable and seasonal employees
  • Reporting for your county or district regarding the status of potential benefits-eligible employees
  • Printing of your county or district’s 1094C and 1095C forms, and transmission to the IRS
  • Printing of your county or district’s 1094B and 1095B forms (applies to self-insured groups only) and transmission to the IRS

2019 ARTS Agreement and File Templates

2019 Renewal Agreement Form for HEBP groups

2019 ARTS File Deadlines

ARTS File Formats and Field Descriptions

ARTS File Template Instructions

ARTS Employee File Template

ARTS Payroll File Template

ARTS LOA File Template