By Mathew Augustine, GPHR, REBC
CEO, Hanna Global Solutions
By Mathew Augustine, GPHR, REBC
CEO, Hanna Global Solutions
Topics: employee engagement, benefit communication, benefit consultants, benefit management, compliance with health care reform, employee health, group health insurance, healthcare consumerism, health plan compliance, health reimbursement account, HRA administration, insurance solutions, medical plan, talent retention
The regulatory agencies have recently issued two sets of guidance that affect an employer’s Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) obligations and opportunities under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA).
Topics: employee wellness, private insurance exchange, benefit communication, benefit consultants, benefit management, compliance with health care reform, employee health, group health insurance, healthcare consumerism, health plan compliance, health reimbursement account, HRA administration, insurance solutions, medical plan, self funded health plans
To meet federal requirements, large health plans must obtain a national health plan identifier number (HPID) by November 5, 2014. For this requirement, a large health plan is one with more than $5 million in annual receipts. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has said that since health plans don't have receipts, insured plans should look at premiums for the prior plan year and self-funded plans should look at claims paid for the prior plan year. Small health plans have until November 5, 2015, to obtain an HPID.
Topics: employee wellness, private insurance exchange, benefit communication, benefit consultants, benefit management, compliance with health care reform, employee health, group health insurance, healthcare consumerism, health plan compliance, health reimbursement account, HRA administration, insurance solutions, medical plan, self funded health plans
By Mary Drueke-Collins, FSA
Topics: employee wellness, private insurance exchange, benefit communication, benefit consultants, benefit management, compliance with health care reform, employee health, group health insurance, healthcare consumerism, health plan compliance, health reimbursement account, HRA administration, insurance solutions, medical plan, self funded health plans
On February 10, 2014, the IRS issued final regulations on the employer shared responsibility requirements, often known as “play or pay.” The play or pay requirements originally were to take effect in 2014, but on July 2, 2013, the White House announced that compliance would be delayed until 2015.
Topics: employee wellness, private insurance exchange, benefit communication, benefit consultants, benefit management, compliance with health care reform, employee health, group health insurance, healthcare consumerism, health plan compliance, health reimbursement account, HRA administration, insurance solutions, medical plan, self funded health plans
The IRS has released the 2015 minimums and maximums that apply to health savings accounts (HSAs) and related high-deductible health plans (HDHPs). These increases occur annually based on a cost-of-living formula. Because the inflation rate is fairly low, the amounts have not increased very much from last year.
Topics: employee wellness, private insurance exchange, benefit communication, benefit consultants, benefit management, compliance with health care reform, employee health, group health insurance, healthcare consumerism, health plan compliance, health reimbursement account, HRA administration, insurance solutions, medical plan, self funded health plans
Employers of all sizes are challenged to rethink employee benefits in this new world of health care reform. Tight budgets and a still-recovering economy are spurring benefits managers to think beyond health insurance and look at their benefits as a whole.
Topics: benefit communication, benefit consultants, benefit management, compliance with health care reform, employee health, group health insurance, healthcare consumerism, health plan compliance, health reimbursement account, HRA administration, insurance solutions, medical plan
By Josie Martinez
Senior Partner and Legal Counsel
EBS Capstone, A UBA Partner Firm
Topics: benefit communication, benefit consultants, benefit management, compliance with health care reform, employee health, group health insurance, healthcare consumerism, health plan compliance, health reimbursement account, HRA administration, insurance solutions, medical plan
Many group health plans will need to be amended to reflect the required changes to benefits and waiting periods that take effect in 2014. Employers also should consider whether eligibility language will need to be updated to reduce the number of hours the employee must work to be eligible, to address look-back periods, and/or to base eligibility on actual hours worked instead of the “regularly scheduled to work” standard that is common now.
Topics: benefit communication, benefit consultants, benefit management, compliance with health care reform, employee health, group health insurance, healthcare consumerism, health plan compliance, health reimbursement account, HRA administration, insurance solutions, medical plan
By Lisa Weston, CWC, CWPC
Director of Employee Wellness Promotion
the bagnall company, a UBA Partner Firm
Topics: benefit communication, benefit consultants, benefit management, compliance with health care reform, employee health, group health insurance, healthcare consumerism, health plan compliance, health reimbursement account, HRA administration, insurance solutions, medical plan
