Employee Benefits
Washington Update: DOL Issues Guidance Regarding the ARPA COBRA Subsidies
On April 7, 2021, the DOL issued guidance regarding the COBRA subsidy provisions under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA). As a reminder, the ARPA allows for certain individuals to elect COBRA coverage and have that COBRA coverage 100% subsidized by the federal government from April 1, 2021, to September 30, 2021. An…
> Keep ReadingCompliance Corner – April 1, 2021
Compliance Corner is a bi-weekly update with the latest news and resources on benefits compliance, federal health, healthcare reform and COVID-19. The content in Compliance Corner is produced by our parent company at NFP. The situation and guidance surrounding the coronavirus (COVID-19) are rapidly evolving on a daily and sometimes hourly basis. While we address current…
> Keep ReadingWashington Update: Congress Passes the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021
On March 10, 2021, Congress passed the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA). The ARPA includes over $1.9 trillion in COVID-19 relief and contains important updates to certain benefits laws to help employees who have been affected by the pandemic. We will address some of the major benefits-related provisions below. COBRA Effective April 1,…
> Keep ReadingCOVID-19 Benefits Compliance Update
As the world grapples with the global outbreak of COVID-19, many employers have questions about their benefits compliance obligations pertaining to employees who may be affected by the virus. While we will attempt to address at a high level some of the issues that have been brought to our attention, it’s important to note that…
> Keep ReadingCOVID-19 Coronavirus: What It Is, How to Protect Yourself, and Where to Seek Ongoing Updates
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), coronaviruses are common in animal species, and most don’t affect humans. As of now, only seven different coronaviruses are known to infect humans. In their lifetime, most people will be infected with at least one common human coronavirus. https://vimeo.com/395455589 What Are the Symptoms of Coronavirus?…
> Keep ReadingWill 2020 Be the Year Health Care Consumerism Takes Hold?
For years, many health care experts have been calling for a new paradigm: health care consumerism. They imagine a world where individuals can take a more active approach in decisions involving their health, and care shopping is no different than shopping for a new car or the latest HDTV. By taking a more proactive approach,…
> Keep ReadingCompliance FAQ: If Our SPDs Are Available on Our Intranet, Does That Meet ERISA Distribution Requirements?
The short answer is no. Simply posting the Summary Plan Description (SPD) on your intranet is not enough. Employers must ensure the intended recipients receive the SPDs. For example, merely providing employees with access to a computer in a common area (e.g., a computer kiosk) is not a permissible means to electronically furnish ERISA-required documents.…
> Keep ReadingCompliance FAQ: Do We Need to Continue Offering Benefits to an Employee Moving From Full to Part-Time?
An employee who regularly works 30 or more hours per week is considered full-time and, therefore, must be offered health coverage by an employer, subject to the employer mandate. If an employee is reasonably expected to work full-time hours, based on determinative factors such as comparable full-time positions, how it was advertised in a job…
> Keep ReadingCompliance FAQ: What Are the Most Common Mistakes Employers Make When Administering FMLA?
The Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) was enacted on Feb. 5, 1993, which means it celebrated its 25th anniversary this year. Even after all these years, it can still be one of the more complex laws with which an employer needs to comply and continues to be a hot topic among our client base. So,…
> Keep ReadingZywave Releases 2017 Health Plan Design Benchmark Report
Data nerds, rejoice! Zywave’s 2017 Employee Benefits Benchmark Report has officially been released. Zywave, a privately held company headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, is the leading provider of software-as-a-service (SaaS) technology solutions for the insurance industry. The benchmark report they’ve released is the result of an analysis that was performed on Zywave’s proprietary database of more…
> Keep Reading2018 HSA Limit for Family Coverage Reduced (Update: IRS Reverses Course!)
UPDATE: On April 26, 2018, the IRS announced that, for 2018, taxpayers with family high deductible health plan (HDHP) coverage may treat $6,900 as the annual contribution limit to their health savings accounts (HSAs). Employers with HDHPs may want to inform their employees about the HSA contribution limit change for family HDHP coverage. Employees who changed their…
> Keep Reading5 Ways to Communicate the Value of Your Voluntary Benefits
Offering voluntary benefits is a great way to enhance your benefits package, differentiate from competitors and increase employee satisfaction –– all with little impact on your budget. But while employers may choose to offer numerous types of voluntary benefits that can deliver convenience and value for employees, many employees do not understand the advantages of…
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