Industry News Archives - Page 4 of 8

Regulations Regarding Short-Term Limited-Duration Insurance, Excepted Benefits, and Lifetime/Annual Limits | PA Benefit Advisors

January 3, 2017

Recently, the U.S. Department of the Treasury, Department of Labor (DOL), and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) (collectively the Departments) issued final regulations regarding the definition of short-term, limited-duration insurance, standards for travel insurance and supplemental health insurance coverage to be considered excepted benefits, and an amendment relating to the prohibition on lifetime … Continued

Ask the Experts: Working from Home During Bad Weather | PA Benefit Advisors

December 29, 2016

Question: Are we required to allow employees (either exempt or nonexempt) to work from home if we must close the office due to bad weather? Answer: No, employers are not required to allow employees to telework (work from home or another location; virtual work) under any specific weather conditions regardless of Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) exemption … Continued

Do’s and Don’ts to Keep Your Company Holiday Party Merry and Bright | PA Benefit Advisors

December 21, 2016

Tis the season for company holiday parties. The time of year when employees gather to mix and mingle with co-workers outside of the normal work setting. It sounds like a merry ol’ time to most, but holiday parties can be a headache for HR leaders. While it’s a great opportunity to thank employees for all … Continued

New Law Allows Small Employers to Pay Premiums for Individual Policies | PA Benefit Advisors

December 13, 2016

This week, the U.S. Senate passed the 21st Century Cures Act which includes a provision allowing small businesses to offer a new type of health reimbursement arrangement for their employees’ health care expenses, including individual insurance premiums. The act was previously passed by the House and President Obama is expected to sign it shortly. The … Continued

The New HSA Under Trump’s Proposed Health Plan | PA Benefit Advisors

December 9, 2016

With the election of a new President, health care plans and the fate of the Affordable Care Act are a hot topic of discussion. As part of his 7-tier health plan, President-Elect Donald Trump has proposed a shift in the way health savings accounts (HSAs) are offered to working Americans. Simply put, an HSA is … Continued

VOI vs. ROI: A Business Case for Wellness | PA Benefit Advisors

December 7, 2016

VolkBell began the exploration into health and wellness about eight years ago. It was something our partners would say, “Just made sense.” At the time, health care costs were skyrocketing across the nation, particularly in our home state of Colorado, and the nation’s obesity rates were at an all-time high. In our research, we observed … Continued

The Shift Away from Health Risk Assessments | PA Benefit Advisors

November 30, 2016

Historically, employers have utilized health risk assessments (HRAs) as one measurement tool in wellness program design. The main goals of an HRA are to assess individual health status and risk and provide feedback to participants on how to manage risk. Employers have traditionally relied on this type of assessment to evaluate the overall health risk … Continued

UBA Special Report: 2016 Trends in Employer Wellness Programs | PA Benefit Advisors

November 22, 2016

The latest round of regulations in the area of wellness (what employers can and can’t do) is proving to be a hotly contested topic. Employers are eager to offer incentives as a way to both encourage wellness and also lower health care costs. However, employee privacy is on the line, and some argue, at risk. … Continued

Going Where Others Fear to Tread: When COBRA and the FMLA Cross Paths | PA Benefit Advisors

November 17, 2016

In some of my previous blogs, the foundation of the Consolidated Omnibus Reconciliation Act of 1985 (COBRA) continuation coverage was reviewed. Now that the groundwork has been laid, it is time to tread into the territories (or laws) where employers can lose their footing. The area covered in the following is that of the intersection … Continued

Retaining Top Millennial Talent: HR strategies for the largest generation in the workforce | PA Benefit Advisors

November 14, 2016

Millennials are currently the largest generation in the workforce, and statistics show they’re not going anywhere anytime soon. By 2020, millennials are projected to make up 50% of the workforce. As millennials continue to rise in numbers, companies are finding it harder to retain them in their current roles. A study conducted by Deloitte conveyed … Continued

Category: Industry News