Author: RAM Benefits Admin
Filing Form 5500
If your company provides an employee benefit plan governed by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA), you are likely obligated to file Form 5500. This annual report discloses key details about your organization’s benefit offerings, such as welfare benefit plans (including medical, dental, life, and disability coverage), retirement plans, fully insured plans, and self-funded…
Compliance Briefing | March
March ACA Reporting Deadlines for 2025 Calendar Year Plans Each year, employers subject to Affordable Care Act (ACA) reporting must complete several federal filing requirements early in the calendar year. March is the most critical compliance month for ACA reporting because it includes the primary deadline for furnishing employee statements and the electronic filing deadline with…
Compliance Briefing | February
Updated HIPAA Notice of Privacy Practices Required in 2026 Employers that sponsor self-funded group health plans should prepare for upcoming changes to the HIPAA Notice of Privacy Practices (NPP). Federal privacy rules require group health plans to provide plan participants with an NPP explaining how their protected health information (PHI) is used, disclosed, and safeguarded.…
Compliance Briefing | January
2026 Transparency in Coverage (TiC) Posting Requirements Employers sponsoring non-grandfathered, self-funded group health plans and health insurance issuers remain responsible for the ongoing Transparency in Coverage (TiC) public posting requirements. Plans must publicly post machine-readable files (MRFs) that disclose in-network negotiated rates, out-of-network allowed amounts, and billed charges for covered items and services. For fully…
Navigating Health Plan Options: A Quick Guide
Choosing a health insurance plan can feel a lot like solving a puzzle—there are many moving pieces, and the best fit depends on how they come together for your unique situation. With so many options and acronyms—HMO, PPO, POS, EPO, HDHP—it’s easy to feel unsure about where to start. This guide breaks down the most…
Strengthening Culture Through Timely Appreciation
Recognition is one of the most cost-effective tools for shaping workplace culture, yet it is often overlooked. When it’s missing or delayed, employees don’t just feel unappreciated; they also feel disrespected. They disengage, lose motivation, and eventually walk out the door. Recent research highlights the urgency of this issue. Only 19% of employees report receiving…
ACA Update: IRS Announces 2027 Cost-Sharing Limits
On January 29, 2026, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) officially released the maximum cost-sharing limits for the 2027 plan year. These figures represent a significant 13.2% increase over the 2026 limits, marking a substantial shift in potential out-of-pocket expenses for plan participants. 2027 Maximum Out-of-Pocket Limits For 2027, the maximum annual…
Guiding Better Benefit Decisions
Employees don’t experience their benefits all at once. They encounter them in moments — when a bill arrives, when a provider is chosen, or when an unexpected health issue surfaces. Yet, benefits communication is still heavily focused on enrollment, leaving employees without guidance when decisions are made. That gap can be costly. Over 60% of…
2026 ACA Reporting Guide: Key Deadlines and Compliance Requirements
Employers must prepare for Affordable Care Act (ACA) reporting covering the 2025 calendar year. Staying ahead of these deadlines is critical for Applicable Large Employers (ALEs) and providers of self-insured health plans. Who is Required to Report? Reporting obligations under Internal Revenue Code Sections 6055 and 6056 fall into two main categories: Self-Insured Health Plan…
Educating Your Workforce: Unlocking the Power of Voluntary Benefits
Offering voluntary benefits is an excellent way to strengthen your overall benefits package, stand out from competitors, and enhance employee satisfaction—all with minimal impact on your budget. However, while employers often provide a wide range of voluntary benefits designed to offer value and convenience, many employees may not fully understand what these benefits are or…