September 12, 2017
Compliance Recap | August 2017
August was a quiet month in the employee benefits world. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) released its 2018 affordability rate, four information letters regarding the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), and its draft Forms 1094 and The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) increased ...
August 15, 2017
What You Need to Know about Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts
A dependent care flexible spending account (DCFSA) is a pre-tax benefit account used to pay for eligible dependent care services. The IRS determines which expenses are eligible for reimbursement and these expenses are defined by Internal Revenue Code §129 and the employer’s plan. Eligible ...
August 15, 2017
ERISA’s “Church Plan” Exception
The Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) was signed in 1974. The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) is the agency responsible for administering and enforcing this law. For many years, most of ERISA’s requirements applied to pension plans. However, in recent years that has changed, ...
August 10, 2017
Compliance Recap | July 2017
July was a relatively quiet month in the employee benefits world, despite the U.S. Senate’s release of two bills in its attempt to repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA). First, the U.S. Senate revised its Better Care Reconciliation Act and declined to vote on its ...
July 25, 2017
Coffee is the Nectar of the Gods
Ah, coffee, is there any better beverage? Speaking as a lover of coffee, but not a coffee snob, I always look forward to that first-morning cup. As I savor its aroma – while the medium-bodied roast charms my taste buds – with each sip I am grateful to whoever created this libation. I would ...
July 20, 2017
The Perk of Pets
Does your company offer healthcare? Check. Does it offer a 401(k) program? Check. How about paid time off and tuition reimbursement? Check and check. Now, does it offer pet-friendly perks? Huh? Some of the latest and greatest company benefits have been the recognition that pets of employees are ...
July 19, 2017
About That Inheritance… Don’t Count on It
Not too long ago, it was assumed that Social Security would pay for most people’s retirement needs. Now, we know better and most employees, regardless of their age, are aware that they need to save additional funds for their retirement. In fact, many younger employees believe that Social ...
July 18, 2017
VR for HR
No matter how well traveled you are, or how busy your lifestyle may be, you likely haven’t been everywhere in the world, or done everything there is to do. There is technology out there, however, that can bring the world to you. That technology is called “virtual reality,” or VR for short, and ...
July 11, 2017
Compliance Recap | June 2017
June was an active month in the employee benefits world. The U.S. Senate released a draft of the Better Care Reconciliation Act of 2017 which would substitute the U.S. House Resolution 1628 that aimed to repeal and replace the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA). The U.S. Supreme ...
June 24, 2017
Senate Releases Proposed Healthcare Bill | Brinson Compliance
Differs from House AHCA On June 22, 2017, the United States Senate released a “Discussion Draft” of the “Better Care Reconciliation Act of 2017” (BCRA), which would substitute the House’s House Resolution 1628, a reconciliation bill aimed at “repealing and ...
