CMS Issues New Rules Barring Surprise Billing
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Service in late June released a series of new regulations targeted at banning surprise billing in most instances, taking aim at a scourge that ends up costing many covered individuals thousands of dollars even
Employer Medical Costs Expected to Rise 6.5% in 2022
As this year sees increased health care spending due to pent-up demand after many people delayed medical procedures in 2020, a new report by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) predicts employer medical costs will rise 6.5% in 2022. Last year was the first time
Pandemic Brings Voluntary Benefits to Fore
One major repercussion of the COVID-19 pandemic is that employees are embracing the voluntary benefits their employers are offering them, but they'd like to see more choices and issues such as mental health and voluntary benefits have risen to the
Tackling the Group Health Employee Premium Burden
As the labor market tightens and businesses struggle to attract new talent, many companies are starting to boost their employee benefit offerings, particularly voluntary benefits. But besides added benefit choices, what many employees want is relief from continually increasing health premiums
2022 HSA Contribution Limits, HDHP Minimums, Maximums Set
The IRS has set the maximum amounts employees can funnel into their health savings accounts and health reimbursement accounts (HRAs) for the 2022 policy year. The IRS updates these amounts every year to adjust for inflation in addition to minimum deductibles
DOL Issues Model COBRA Subsidy Notices
As you will recall, the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA) includes a 100% COBRA subsidy for people who were laid off during the COVID-19 pandemic. As part of the law, which took effect April 1, the Department of Labor
Health Plan Rebates in 2021 to Be Second Highest on Record
Group health plan insurers are expected to pay out $618 million in rebates to plan sponsors for the 2020 policy year after seeing use of health care services plummet during the COVID-19 pandemic. That's according to a Kaiser Family Foundation estimate
How to Create a Flextime Policy
With so many people having been relegated to remote work during the COVID-19 pandemic, many employers are now wrestling with how to proceed as it starts to wane. Many companies are considering implementing hybrid, flextime work schedules after seeing success
Vision Coverage Can Reduce Overall Health Care Costs
Research has found that employers who offered their workers stand-alone vision benefits experienced $5.8 billion in cost savings in the aggregate over four years due to reduced health care costs, avoided productivity losses, and lower turnover rates. That’s because individuals who
Health Plans Dropping Out-of-Pocket Cost Waivers for COVID-19 Treatment
As the light at the end of the pandemic tunnel gets brighter, more health insurers are ceasing to offer cost-sharing waivers for COVID-19 treatment. After legislation was enacted in 2020 that required health insurance companies to cover COVID-19 tests and vaccines,