Small-Group Market Remains Stable under the ACA
A new report has concluded that the Affordable Care Act, which took full effect in 2013, did not result in a significant change in the number of employers offering health insurance, although the rate at which small employers offered coverage
How HRAs Can Help Your Employees Pay for Medical Expenses
As rising health insurance premiums and out-of-pocket costs for health care are burdening workers, more employers are looking for ways to help their staff put aside money for those expenses. While health savings accounts have grown in popularity, you can only
Health Insurance Considerations for Workers Who Move Out of State
One fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic has been an increase in the number of Americans who are working from home permanently. With so many people being freed from the yokes of the office, many have chosen to move to other states
What You Need to Know About COVID Test Kit Rules for Group Health Plans
Starting Jan. 15, the nation’s health insurers have been required to cover the cost of up to eight at-home rapid COVID-19 tests per month for their health plan enrollees. Insurers are taking different approaches to the mandate and, as an employer,
Long-Haul COVID Can Be Covered Under ADA
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has issued guidance stating that employees suffering from "long COVID-19" may be protected under workplace disability discrimination statutes. The guidance states that someone suffering from impairments resulting from long-haul COVID-19 symptoms can be considered "disabled" under
Health Expenses a Major Source of Mental Health Issues for U.S. Workers
A new study has found that more than one in four U.S. workers say expensive medical bills are having a major impact on their mental health. Mental health issues have come to the fore during the COVID-19 pandemic, spurring employers to
IRS to Get Tough on ACA Reporting Form Mistakes
The time when the IRS offers relief from financial penalties to employers that make errors on their group health insurance reporting forms has come to an end. Starting this year, the IRS will no longer offer protection against reporting error penalties
Employers Curtail Health Cost-Shifting to Workers
One of the health insurance trends that went largely unnoticed in 2021 was that employers halted cost-shifting to their employees by reducing or holding steady workers’ deductibles and other cost-sharing. That’s according to a new study by consulting firm Mercer, which
Pandemic Fallout: Employers Boost Mental Health, Substance Abuse Benefits
The COVID-19 pandemic has had profound effects on health insurance in the U.S., with many employers improving mental health and other benefits to help their workers during this trying period, according to a new report by the Kaiser Family Foundation. Despite
Hospital Indemnity Insurance a Key Voluntary Benefit
Most employers offer major medical coverage to their full-time employees. But that still leaves workers and their families with significant exposure to financial hardship in the event of a serious medical emergency.For example, even with insurance, treating a broken leg