The FASB is the entity that sets accounting and financial reporting rules to create financial reports for private sector employers.

The GASB is the entity that sets accounting and financial reporting rules to create financial reports for public sector employers.

Accounting rules for retiree healthcare programs have changed significantly over the past 25 years. FASB Statement No. 106 became effective in 1993 to address the concerns over the ability of private-sector employers to finance promised retiree healthcare benefits. GASB Statement No. 45 became effective in 2007 to address similar concerns in the public sector however only requires the reporting of the cost of their retiree healthcare benefits until 2010 at which time they must establish funding for this benefit.

Medical technology and healthier living has increased overall life expectancy thus the number of years people are spending in retirement has also increased. Most employers, both private and public, did not anticipate the substantial increase in cost due to their retirees living longer. Private sector employers will tell you FASB 106 is the reason why most no longer offer retiree healthcare benefits. Public sector employers will tell you GASB 45 could mean the end to many public programs.

Employers that promised retiree healthcare benefits must comply with the financial rules that FASB and GASB have established. This requires reserving money for future retiree claims on a monthly basis, which can run into millions of dollars per retiree depending on how long they live.

In 1990 FASB approved Statement No. 106, which requires the financial accounting of all non-pension benefits provided after a person leaves employment. The non-pension benefit that Statement No. 106 principally focuses on is retiree health care. Private sector employers are not only required to report the financial liability of their retiree healthcare programs but they are also required to pre-fund them.

In 2004 GASB approved Statement No. 45, which requires the financial accounting and reporting of all Other Post Employment Benefits (OPEB) provided by public sector employers. OPEBs include all non-pension benefits provided after a person leaves employment. The OPEB causing the most concern for public entities is retiree health care.

Any employer, private or public, that provides any post-employment, non-pension benefit must comply with the appropriate accounting and reporting statement.

Until these accounting rule changes became effective, all employers reported costs of their retiree healthcare benefits based on what was paid out in a given year. This created concern by the FASB and the GASB regarding the financial ability of these employers to pay for these benefits as promised.

Non-compliance issues are different for these two accounting rules.

FASB 106 requires private sector employers to not only report the cost of retiree healthcare benefits but they must also put in place advance funding mechanisms to ensure the benefits will be paid. Penalties for not reporting and/or funding retiree healthcare benefits by private sector employers can be substantial.

GASB 45 is an accounting standard and is not a law. However, failure to follow its’ accounting and reporting rules could be harmful to the financial health of public sector employers. Although GASB 45 does not require advance funding, it encourages public sector employers to set aside money for their employees’ retirement in order to fund future liabilities. For city and state governments that do not have a plan for funding their retiree benefits, their bond rating could be negatively affected in addition to negative credit ratings, investment returns, and borrowing costs, all of which are factors that affect negotiations.

FASB 106 has been in effect since 1993 thus all phases have already been put into place.

• Total Annual Revenue in the first fiscal year ending after June 15, 1999, Must report costs in financial statements for periods beginning after
• $100 million or more December 15, 2006
• $10 million or more but less than $100 million December 15, 2007
• Less than $10 million December 15, 2008

All component units are required to implement accounting and reporting procedures no later than the same year as the primary government.