ACA-Track Shares ROI Case Study
How One Self-Funded Employer Avoided a $130,500 ACA Penalty
MyHealthGuide Source: ACA-Track, 9/2/2025
One of the most expensive Account Care Act (ACA) mistakes is violating the 4980H(a) employer mandate, which requires that at least 95% of full-time employees be offered minimum essential coverage (MEC).
Here’s a real example from a self-funded employer we worked with:
- Employer Size: 75 full-time employees
- Issue: MEC was not offered to at least 95% of employees (missed by only five)
- Potential Trigger: One employee without coverage receiving a premium tax credit through the exchange
- 2025 Penalty Formula: $2,900 annually × (Total full-time employees − 30)
- Penalty Exposure: (75 − 30) × $2,900 = $130,500
With the IRS now sending more 226-J letters than in previous years, the likelihood of this penalty being enforced was high.
ACA-Track’s software flagged the coverage shortfall before the reporting year closed. Because our model combines technology with white-glove service, the employer’s dedicated ACA compliance specialist (CSR) immediately reached out to the owner. The CSR explained the issue, provided a clear correction plan and worked with the employer to ensure the missing coverage offers were made in time. This proactive intervention kept the employer in compliance and eliminated the penalty entirely.
Annual ACA-Track cost: ~$3,000
Penalty avoided: $130,500
ROI: Over 43.5x return on investment
For context, a recent McKinsey Report reported that self-funded employers require a minimum of 2:1 return on investment from each vendor. Avoiding a single penalty like this one delivers 20 times that benchmark — and that’s just one example from one year.
For self-funded employers, that’s not just compliance. It’s a direct protection of plan assets, prevention of IRS action and a return that’s hard to beat.
Contact: Stephen Loiseau, Head of Sales, at stephen@aca-track.com and visit aca-track.com.
