COVID-19 Home Test Kits Reimbursable under FSAs, HSAs
Under new guidance issued by the IRS, at-home COVID-19 testing kits will be considered a reimbursable medical expense under the three main health care savings vehicles offered to employees. This new guidance adds to the list of personal COVID-19-related expenses for
Pandemic Spurs Supplemental Benefits Uptake Among Workers
A new study has found that in response to the COVID-19 pandemic nearly half of U.S. workers added one new supplemental health-related benefit on top of their group health coverage. The 2021 “Aflac WorkForces Report” found that 44% of employees bought
Large Employers Must File ACA Forms, Not the Insurers
One mistake more and more employers are making is failing to file the required Affordable Care Act tax-related forms with the IRS. If you are what's considered an "applicable large employer" (ALE) under the ACA, you are required to file with
New Issues for 2022 Group Plan Open Enrollment
Employers are entering the second year of open enrollment taking place during the COVID-19 pandemic, which is still having an outsized impact on the process and which has changed the face of health insurance. There are a number of issues that
Group Plan Affordability Level Set for 2022
The IRS has announced the new affordability requirement test percentage that group health plans must comply with to conform to the Affordable Care Act. Starting in 2022, the cost of self-only group plans offered to workers by employers that are required
Coverage for Virtual Substance Abuse Treatment Grows
Thousands of American families have been affected by the tragedy of someone with a substance abuse problem. For many, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, finding available and affordable treatment has been difficult or impossible. Recently, however, virtual treatment options have become
Accident Insurance Can Save Your Workers from Ruin
Even if you are providing your staff with health benefits, they could be left under great financial pressure if one of them has a major accident off the job that leaves them debilitated and unable to work. Millions of working
PBM Trade Association Sues Over Transparency Rules
As the federal government continues rolling out new laws and regulations aimed at increasing price transparency in the health care industry, one group is fighting back: pharmacy benefit managers. The Pharmaceutical Care Management Association, a trade association for PBMs, has sued
An Employer Guide to Open Enrollment for the 2022 Policy Year
With the COVID-19 pandemic continuing to throw a wrench into the economy and the workplace, employers are gearing up for another unusual open enrollment for their group health plans for the 2022 policy year. As a result of the pandemic, your
COBRA Subsidies Ending and Employers Must Send Out Notices
The 100% COBRA health insurance subsidies for workers who lost their jobs during the COVID-19 pandemic are about to expire on Sept. 30, and that means employers who have former staff receiving those subsidies must notify them of their expiration. If