Blog
Gag Clause Attestation Deadline
As the year comes to an end, a crucial compliance deadline looms for employers with health plans. Under the Consolidated Appropriations Act (CAA), health plans and insurance issuers must submit a Gag Clause Compliance Attestation by December 31, 2024. Since its enactment in 2020, this regulation prohibits health plans from including gag clauses—provisions that limit…
FSA Contribution Limits for 2025
On October 22, 2024, the IRS announced that the limit on employees’ salary reduction contributions to a health Flexible Spending Account (FSA) will increase to $3,3000 for plan years beginning in 2025. This is an increase from the 2024 limit of $3,200. By understanding the latest contribution limits, individuals can better plan for 2025 and…
Compliance Recap | Oct. 2024
MEDICARE PART D CREDITABLE COVERAGE NOTICES Group health plans that provide prescription drug coverage to Medicare Part D eligible individuals must disclose whether that coverage is creditable or not creditable before the start of the annual coordinated election period for Medicare Part D. Creditable coverage means that the coverage is expected to pay on average…
ER vs Urgent Care: How to Choose the Right Care for Your Medical Needs
All too often, illness or injury appears out of the blue: You wake up in the middle of the night with intense abdominal pain. Or your baby spikes a high fever on the weekend. These situations are stressful and it’s hard to think when you’re under stress. But you need to decide where to go…
The Pay or Play Percentage Increase for 2025
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) requires large employers to offer affordable health insurance coverage to their full-time employees or face a penalty known as the “Pay or Play” tax. This tax is based on the employer’s average monthly wage (AMW) and the number of full-time employees. The affordability rate for employer-sponsored health coverage will increase from 8.39% to…
Compliance Recap | Sept. 2024
SUMMARY ANNUAL REPORT DUE The Summary Annual Report (SAR) is a disclosure requirement under ERISA. The SAR acts as a narrative of the Form 5500 for employee benefit plans. It includes financial statements, funding requirements, and participants’ rights. The SAR must be provided to participants and enrolled beneficiaries within nine months after the end of the plan…
Bridging the Generational Divide: Leveraging Technology for Effective Communication
In today’s diverse workplaces, effective communication across generations is essential for fostering collaboration, productivity, and a positive work environment. Understanding the unique communication preferences of each generation can help bridge the gap and create a more inclusive and harmonious workplace. Technology can play a crucial role in bridging the generational gap and facilitating seamless communication.…
Benefits 101: What Is a FSA?
When it comes to health insurance, there is a lot of jargon and plenty of acronyms. Many people have heard of FSAs, but may not actually know — what is a flexible spending account, exactly? If you have an employer-sponsored health plan, a flexible spending account (FSA) is often available as part of the benefits…
Medical Loss Ratio (MLR) Rebates: A Timely Reminder
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) introduced the Medical Loss Ratio (MLR) to ensure that health insurance companies spend a significant portion of premiums on medical care and quality improvement activities rather than administrative costs and profits. When insurers fail to meet the MLR threshold, they are required to issue rebates to plan sponsors. Understanding MLR…
Compliance Recap August 2024
FEDERAL COURT BLOCKS FTC NON-COMPETE BAN NATIONWIDE: IMPORTANT INSIGHTS FOR EMPLOYERS On August 20, 2024, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas delivered a crucial ruling, effectively halting the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) Rule prohibiting most non-compete agreements. The Rule, which was set to go into effect on September 4, 2024, was…