Employee Benefits
Avoid These COBRA Mistakes At All Costs
COBRA requires that employers provide former employees and dependents who lose group health benefits with an opportunity to continue group health insurance coverage for a limited period of time. Compliance with the complex rules regarding COBRA coverage can be difficult and mistakes can be costly. Penalties for non-compliance can include IRS excise taxes and ERISA…
> Keep ReadingIs it a HIPAA Violation to Say that an Employee is at a Doctor’s Appointment?
Are any of the following three situations a HIPAA violation? Is it a violation of HIPAA for an employee to say that another employee is out of the office for a “doctor’s appointment”? Is it a violation for an employee to say another employee is out of the office due to an appendectomy? (naming the…
> Keep ReadingNo Exchange Notice, No Problem: DOL Says “No Penalty for Failing to Provide the Notice”
The Department of Labor said in an FAQ on Wednesday (September 11th) that “there will be no fine or penalty for failing to provide the notice to your employees.” The news brings a little relief for employers scrambling to distribute the mandated Exchange Notice to their employees by October 1st.
> Keep ReadingYour Employees Must Receive an Exchange Notice by October 1st
October 1, 2013, is a huge day for the Affordable Care Act (ACA) as open enrollment will begin for the new health insurance Marketplaces, also called Exchanges.
> Keep ReadingWhat is an EAP (FAQs)
An Employee Assistance Program is an employer-sponsored program that offers services or referrals to help employees deal with personal problems. Traditionally, the focus was drug and alcohol abuse, but many employers have expanded programs to include a variety of issues.
> Keep ReadingHow to Hire to Fit Your Company Culture
You may realize that an individual is not a good fit, or a new employee may choose to leave if the job doesn’t match their expectations. In both circumstances, many of these separations are due to the fact that the hired individuals did not fit the company culture and therefore lacked productivity, creativity and/or morale.
> Keep ReadingLimits on Out-of-Pocket Maximums Delayed for Some Health Plans
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) limits the amount that health plan enrollees can be forced to pay out of pocket for essential health benefits. Once the annual out-of-pocket maximum is reached for the year, an enrollee will not be responsible for additional cost-sharing for these benefits for the remainder of the year.
> Keep ReadingIRS Makes Employer Mandate Delay Official [Downloadable PDF]
On July 9, 2013, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) issued Notice 2013-45 to provide formal guidance on the delay of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) large employer “pay or play” rules and related information reporting requirements. The provisions affected by the delay are: § 4980H employer shared responsibility provisions; § 6055 information reporting requirements for…
> Keep Reading3 Key Points to Understand About the Employer Mandate Delay
The Obama administration late yesterday announced that it is postponing for one year the requirement that businesses cover their workers under the new health care law. Regulatory officials acknowledged that the delay was prompted by compliance complexity concerns raised by employers and other stakeholders. Here are a few key points to understand about the decision…
> Keep Reading6 Things You Need to Know About The Health Insurance Marketplaces
We’re less than 3 months out from open enrollment in the Health Insurance Marketplaces. Do you feel like you have a good grasp on what the marketplace is, what it has to offer and how to even use one?
> Keep ReadingSupreme Court Ruling on DOMA and What It Means for Employers
On June 26, 2013, the U.S. Supreme Court announced its decision regarding the constitutionality of the federal Defense of Marriage Act of 1996 (DOMA). The Court struck down Section 3 of DOMA, which limited marriage to opposite sex unions for purposes of federal law.
> Keep Reading78% of HR Professionals Using a Broker to Navigate Health Care Reform [SlideShare]
One thing’s for sure. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act isn’t getting any easier for HR professionals to digest and understand. 41% of HR professionals report that the main implementation barriers for organizations remain the complexity of the law, while 27% say it’s a lack of understanding of the law’s details and impact on their…
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