compliance
October 13, 2021
Compliance Recap | September 2021
September saw a lot of activity in the compliance space, especially coming from the federal government. Vaccine Mandate Guidance Still Pending Vaccine mandates were on everyone’s mind, especially after Delta Airlines announced its $200 monthly surcharge and weekly testing program for ...
October 7, 2021
Departments Issue Guidance on No Surprises Act
On September 30, 2021, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Labor, and the Department of the Treasury (collectively, the Departments), along with the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), released an interim final rule (IFR) under the No Surprises Act (Act) to help ...
September 20, 2021
Medicare Part D Notices
If your health benefit plan covers any employee, or their covered dependents, who is eligible for Medicare, this applies to you. If you know that your plan does not cover any Medicare eligible individuals (employee or dependent) then you do not need to send this notice. If your medical plan ...
September 8, 2021
Sample Open Enrollment Notices Packet
Including: Important Notice About Your Prescription Drug Coverage and Medicare: Provide this notice by October 14 to all participants and dependents who are or may become eligible for Medicare Part D in the next 12 months if the prescription drug coverage provided by the plan is “creditable.” ...
September 7, 2021
Health Savings Accounts: What You Need to Know
A health savings account (HSA) is a tax-exempt trust or custodial account set up with a qualified HSA trustee (such as a bank or insurance company) that is used to pay or reimburse certain medical expenses. HSAs were first available as of January 1, 2004, and have grown greatly in popularity. ...
September 7, 2021
Six Employer Questions to Answer Before Imposing a Surcharge on Unvaccinated Workers
Many employers are struggling to increase COVID-19 vaccination rates among their workforce, concerned not only about both the safety of the workforce but also the costs of COVID-19 treatment that could be avoided through vaccination. Some are now turning to the possibility of a higher premium ...
September 2, 2021
Notice Deadline Nearing for the End of COBRA Subsidies
COBRA subsidy ends September 30, 2021 The COBRA subsidy period under the American Rescue Plan Act (“ARPA”) is nearing its end (September 30, 2021) If required, notices must be sent by September 15, 2021 If a former employee presently covered under COBRA received a COBRA subsidy, you have a ...
August 30, 2021
Departments Defer Transparency and Disclosure Rule Enforcement, Provide FAQ Guidance
On August 20, 2021, the U.S. Departments of Health and Human Services, Labor, and Treasury (collectively, the Departments), issued FAQ guidance regarding provisions of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), the No Surprises Act (the Act) and the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (CAA). ...
August 19, 2021
Compliance Recap | July 2021
July 2021 was a quiet month in the benefits industry, largely due to the summer vacation season and the July 4th Independence Day holiday. Importantly, however, the U.S. Departments of Health and Human Services, Labor, and Treasury, along with the Office of Personnel Management (collectively, ...
July 27, 2021
ARPA COBRA Premium Assistance IRS Q&A Guidance
On July 26, 2021, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) released Notice 2021-46 (Notice) to clarify lingering questions employer plan sponsors and other interested parties have been asking since the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA) became law this past March. The Notice supplements prior ...
