The new Obama administration ruling on health reimbursement arrangements should leave intact most of the programs that benefits firms were planning.

Officials warned this week that trying to give workers cash they could use to buy their own coverage would create what amounts to a group health plan with a low annual benefit limit. That low-limit plan would do nothing to help an employer get out of paying the new Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act employer mandate penalties.

Mark Holloway, a compliance specialist at Lockton, said Tuesday the ruling should no effect on the ordinary HRAs employers use to supplement major medical benefits.