Short answer: The PCORI fee is a small annual fee that funds patient-centered outcomes research. It’s paid by self-funded health plans (and by insurers for fully insured plans) and, for plan years ending between October 2025 and September 2026, is $3.84 per covered life, filed on IRS Form 720 by July 31.
The Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) fee funds comparative-effectiveness research. The insurer pays it for fully insured plans; the employer pays it directly for self-funded plans, including HRAs, ICHRAs, and QSEHRAs (which count covered employees only, not dependents).
For plan years ending on or after October 1, 2025 and before October 1, 2026, the fee is $3.84 per covered life. It’s reported and paid once a year on IRS Form 720, due July 31 following the end of the plan year.