ComplianceMnthlyRecap MH 5.16.22

Redefining Retirement

Posted by: Bill Olson    May 15, 2018 3:35:21 PM

Employees are working longer, whether because of increasing life expectancies or lowered confidence about their ability to retire. Longer work lives are tied to less engagement and more stress, among other negative impacts. For employers, this may mean taking time to consider shifting benefits or programming to better meet changing needs both to help employees retire when they want and stay healthier if they continue working.

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Topics: family insurance benefits, retirement security, retirement planning

IRS Changes HSA Limit for 2018

Posted by: Danielle Capilla    May 11, 2018 10:54:46 AM

Thursday May 10The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) recently released Revenue Procedure 2018-27 to modify the 2018 health savings account (HSA) family contribution limit back to $6,900. This is the second, and likely final, change in limit during 2018.

 

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Topics: family planning, HSA, family insurance benefits, HSA funding, health care benefits, HSAs

The Story Behind Minimal Changes in Plan Designs and Premium Rates

Posted by: Carol Taylor    Oct 29, 2014 8:00:00 AM

CTA 2014 Benchmarking SurveyBy Carol Taylor, Employee Benefit Advisor
D&S Agency, a UBA Partner Firm 

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Topics: health insurance exchanges, private insurance exchange, health marketplace, employee wellness, PPACA, retirement, small group employers, summary of benefits and coverage, SBC, benefit communication, benefit consultants, benefit management, compliance with health care reform, employee health, group health insurance, healthcare consumerism, health plan compliance, health reimbursement account, insurance solutions, medical plan, self funded health plans, Group health plans, small business, dependents, dependent insurance, family insurance benefits

Determining If Dental and Vision Plans Are “Excepted Benefits”

Posted by: Linda Rowings    Oct 16, 2014 8:00:00 AM

131723011By Linda Rowings
Chief Compliance Officer, UBA 

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Topics: health insurance exchanges, private insurance exchange, health marketplace, employee wellness, PPACA, retirement, small group employers, benefit communication, benefit consultants, benefit management, compliance with health care reform, employee health, group health insurance, healthcare consumerism, health plan compliance, health reimbursement account, insurance solutions, medical plan, self funded health plans, Group health plans, small business, dependents, dependent insurance, family insurance benefits

Navigating Narrow or Focused Provider Networks (Part 2)

Posted by: Elizabeth Kay    Oct 14, 2014 2:04:00 PM

140052962By Elizabeth Kay
Compliance and Retention Analyst
AEIS, a UBA Partner Firm

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Topics: health insurance exchanges, private insurance exchange, health marketplace, employee wellness, PPACA, retirement, small group employers, benefit communication, benefit consultants, benefit management, compliance with health care reform, employee health, group health insurance, healthcare consumerism, health plan compliance, health reimbursement account, insurance solutions, medical plan, self funded health plans, Group health plans, small business, dependents, dependent insurance, family insurance benefits

Skinny Plans and Minimum Value: Do these plans really pass the test?

Posted by: Carol Taylor    Oct 10, 2014 1:39:00 PM

122493524By Carol Taylor, Employee Benefit Advisor
D&S Agency, A UBA Partner Firm

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Topics: health insurance exchanges, private insurance exchange, health marketplace, employee wellness, PPACA, retirement, small group employers, summary of benefits and coverage, SBC, benefit communication, benefit consultants, benefit management, compliance with health care reform, employee health, group health insurance, healthcare consumerism, health plan compliance, health reimbursement account, insurance solutions, medical plan, self funded health plans, Group health plans, small business, dependents, dependent insurance, family insurance benefits

What to Include in an SBC

Posted by: Linda Rowings    Sep 10, 2014 2:12:00 PM

178736463A Summary of Benefits and Coverage (SBC) must contain:

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Topics: health insurance exchanges, private insurance exchange, health marketplace, employee wellness, PPACA, retirement, small group employers, summary of benefits and coverage, SBC, benefit communication, benefit consultants, benefit management, compliance with health care reform, employee health, group health insurance, healthcare consumerism, health plan compliance, health reimbursement account, insurance solutions, medical plan, self funded health plans, Group health plans, small business, dependents, dependent insurance, family insurance benefits

Religious Objections to Covering Contraceptives

Posted by: Linda Rowings    Sep 5, 2014 2:06:00 PM

480618415On August 22, 2014, the Departments of Health and Human Services (HHS), Labor, and Treasury released an interim final rule and a proposed rule that provide some new accommodations to employers that have religious objections to covering contraception under their group health plans. The agencies also released a fact sheet on the rules and an alternate form that religious organizations (like religious hospitals, universities and charities) may use.

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Topics: health insurance exchanges, private insurance exchange, health marketplace, employee wellness, PPACA, retirement, small group employers, religious objections, contraception, religious opposition to contraception, benefit communication, benefit consultants, benefit management, compliance with health care reform, employee health, group health insurance, healthcare consumerism, health plan compliance, health reimbursement account, insurance solutions, medical plan, self funded health plans, Group health plans, small business, dependents, dependent insurance, family insurance benefits

Highlights of the SBC Requirement

Posted by: Linda Rowings    Aug 28, 2014 2:43:00 PM

480197459With Fall open enrollment around the corner, most employers will need to provide a Summary of Benefits and Coverage (SBC) to eligible individuals. Here are some highlights of the requirement (as of August 2014):

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Topics: health insurance exchanges, private insurance exchange, health marketplace, employee wellness, PPACA, retirement, small group employers, benefit communication, benefit consultants, benefit management, compliance with health care reform, employee health, group health insurance, healthcare consumerism, health plan compliance, health reimbursement account, insurance solutions, medical plan, self funded health plans, Group health plans, small business, dependents, dependent insurance, family insurance benefits

Dependent Eligibility: Top Three Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Audit

Posted by: Bill Olson    Aug 26, 2014 10:02:00 AM

494146877Recently, UBA Partner Mike Humphrey, Senior Benefits Advisor at The Wilson Agency, shared some great insights for those who are considering doing a dependent audit.  He points out three reasons why you shouldn’t do these audits and offers a much better approach to reining in costs associated with covering dependents that should no longer be on your plan.  Humphrey’s long tenure counseling large employers shows once again that sometimes quick-fix solutions for eliminating wasteful spending aren’t worth it in the end, no matter how well intended. Instead, simple changes to the up front enrollment process can avoid a lot of headaches and keep costs in line.

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Topics: health insurance exchanges, private insurance exchange, health marketplace, employee wellness, PPACA, retirement, small group employers, benefit communication, benefit consultants, benefit management, compliance with health care reform, employee health, group health insurance, healthcare consumerism, health plan compliance, health reimbursement account, insurance solutions, medical plan, self funded health plans, Group health plans, small business, dependents, dependent insurance, family insurance benefits