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
Employers Mull Higher Health Plan Cost-Sharing for Unvaccinated Staff
Some employers are considering a new incentive for their workers to get vaccinated against COVID-19: Charging them higher health insurance premiums if they don't. A recent brief from consulting firm Mercer reported that employers are looking at surcharging the health insurance
Deductibles Shift Drives Interest in Critical Illness Cover
If you want to provide your employees with the one voluntary benefit that can give them peace of mind should tragedy strike, critical illness coverage is the answer. Demand has grown for critical illness insurance over the last year thanks to
What You Need to Know About New Health Plan Transparency Rules
Regulations are slated to take effect over the next few years that will greatly increase the transparency requirements for group health plans. The regulations issued under the Trump administration will require health insurers in the individual and group health markets to
Rules Allowing Mid-Year Health Plan, FSA Changes Will Sunset
A temporary rule that allowed covered employees to make mid-year election changes to their health plans and revisit how much they set aside into their flexible spending accounts (FSAs) will sunset at the end of the year. The rules gave employers
Group Health Insurers Not Factoring In COVID-19 Effects in 2022 Pricing: Study
In a glimpse of what we may expect in terms of premiums, a new study by the Kaiser Family Foundation has found that most insurers are not factoring in added costs or savings related to COVID-19 for their 2022 health
Few Health Plan Enrollees Know About New Price Transparency Rules
Despite a new law requiring hospitals to post detailed pricing information for their treatments and procedures online, fewer than 10% of U.S. adults are aware of the requirement. That's a problem considering that a growing number of Americans have high-deductible health
Attention Employers: IRS Ramping Up ACA Compliance
There are signs that the Internal Revenue Service is starting to step up its enforcement of the Affordable Care Act employer mandate. During the past six months, there's been an uptick in the number of employers receiving initial notices stating they