health care Archives - Page 4 of 11

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

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

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

2016 Election Results: The Potential Impact on Health and Welfare Benefits | PA Benefit Advisors

November 11, 2016

Following the November 2016 election, Donald Trump (R) will be sworn in as the next President of the United States on January 20, 2017. The Republicans will also have the majority in the Senate (51 Republican, 47 Democrat) and in the House of Representatives (238 Republicans, 191 Democrat). As a result, the political atmosphere is … Continued

2016 Health Plan Survey: Topline Trends at a Glance | PA Benefit Advisors

November 4, 2016

The 2016 UBA Health Plan Survey contains the validated responses of 19,557 health plans and 11,524 employers, who cumulatively employ over two and a half million employees and insure more than five million total lives. Our data reflects the experiences of 99% of U.S. businesses in rough proportion to their actual prevalence, not just the … Continued

SSA Announces Higher Incomes Subject to Payroll Tax in 2017 | PA Benefit Advisors

October 30, 2016

On October 18, 2016, the Social Security Administration (SSA) announced the maximum amount of earnings that are subject to the Social Security payroll tax will increase in 2017 to $127,200. This adjustment is effective as of January 1, 2017 and equates an $8,700 increase from the maximum for years 2015 and 2016, which was $118,500. … Continued

What to Expect in 2016 – Clarifying Some of the Confusion of the ACA | PA Benefit Advisors

October 27, 2016

One thing rings true when it comes to the Affordable Care Act (ACA): “expect the unexpected.” I know this sounds cliché, but it was my best attempt to describe the experience HR professionals encounter as they attempt to comply with this somewhat murky piece of legislation. Last year on December 28, we were alerted a … Continued

How Apps are Changing the Way Employees Receive Mental Health Care | PA Benefit Advisors

October 21, 2016

Did you know studies convey that 20% of the population, or 1 in every 5 adults suffer from some sort of mental health condition? Mental health has become a substantially concerning issue in America’s workplace, and therefore a top priority in employee wellness. Mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder cause workers … Continued

Nondiscrimination Rules for Cafeteria Plans | PA Benefit Advisors

October 19, 2016

A cafeteria plan is an employer-provided written plan that offers employees the opportunity to choose between at least one permitted taxable benefit and at least one qualified employee benefit. There is no federal law that requires employers to establish cafeteria plans; however, some states require employers to have cafeteria plans for employees to pay for … Continued

Tag: health care