News

The fate of the so-called Cadillac tax notwithstanding, new strategies are emerging to help employers cut healthcare costs. The Affordable Care Act’s excise tax places a 40% levy on high-cost employer-sponsored health plans ($10,200 for individuals, $27,000 for families). Originally set to go into effect in 2018, it recently was pushed back until 2020 and […]

As employers prepare to distribute Forms 1095 to employees by the newly extended IRS deadline of March 31, they should brace for increased questions from employees about the new forms. In Notice 2016-4, issued by the IRS on Dec. 28, the agency extended the deadlines for both providing individuals with the reporting forms required as part […]

Insurance regulators in Oregon and Alaska now think Moda Health Plan Inc. has a shot at raising the cash it needs to keep its health insurance operations stable for the rest of the year. The Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services and the Alaska Department of Community and Economic Development have agreed to orders that let Moda […]

Commentary: When it comes to benefits management, the most important number for any small to mid-sized business to know is how many full-time employees plus full-time equivalent employees it averaged in calendar year 2014. This solitary, unassuming number is the primary determining factor regarding: 1. If the employer is subject to Affordable Care Act employer […]

In a unanimous vote, the House passed legislation today that would rescind the Affordable Care Act’s expanded definition of a small employer. The bipartisan bill has had strong support from employers and benefit industry insiders who feared the expansion could lead to premium increases and jeopardize the ability for small and mid-sized businesses to compete […]

A House Democrat has proposed two alternatives to H.R. 1624, a bill that would let each state decide whether to set the maximum size of a small group at 50 employees or 100 employees. Rep. Fran Pallone, D-N.J, says he would like to see Congress adopt a bill postponing the effective date of the small-group […]

Commentary: I’ve learned a lot in recent months about the importance of civic responsibility. A vacant church property in my largely residential neighborhood has been sold to a private developer who is determined to tear down the church building and erect in its place a six-story housing development for college students. Community members have rallied, […]

Employees are increasingly bearing the burden of higher employer-sponsored health plan costs, as employers revise plan designs to shift costs from the premiums that they pay to the deductibles paid by employees. Overall, however, health plan costs appear to be better managed than in the past, with the exception of prescription drug costs. These are among […]

Many employers are providing employees with financial wellness benefits to improve their personal balance sheets. The objective, similar to physical wellness programs, is assisting employees to achieve well-managed financial lives so they will be more focused and productive at work. However, these programs may not be effective if they are not relevant to the demographic […]

The new ACA Information Center for Applicable Large Employers page on IRS.gov features information and resources for employers of all sizes on how the health care law may affect them if they fit the definition of an applicable large employer. The page includes such sections as trends and resources for ALEs; how to determine if you are […]