DOL Clarifies Cures Act’s Effect on HRA Guidance
The effect of the recent 21st Century Cures Act on health reimbursement arrangements (HRAs) was clarified by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) in a new round of frequently asked questions (FAQs).
Category: Benefits and Compensation
This topic provides guidance on how to handle compensation issues in a way that attracts and retains the best talent and advances the strategic goals of your business. You get news and tips on what’s going on nationally and in the states, and updates on changes in regulations, possible governmental action, and emerging compensation trends.
Year-End Reporting: Clarifying Tax Forms and ACA Requirements
Navigating the latest tax reporting changes and avoiding filing errors is not always straightforward and can present unique challenges to small and midsized businesses.
CMS Finalizes Health Insurance Marketplace Rules
On December 16, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued the Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters final rule and the final Annual Letter to Issuers for 2018. The primary focus of the notice—risk stabilization—complements recent announcements that are meant to improve the risk pool, including actions to address third-party payments of premiums and improve program integrity for […]
How Many Weeks Must Your Employees Work to Pay for Healthcare Coverage?
Healthcare coverage has been a hot button issue for employers since President Obama signed the Affordable Care Act (ACA) into law in 2010. With President-elect Donald Trump taking office, there has been much speculation over whether or not the ACA will be repealed. Only time will tell if the ACA survives a Trump presidency, but […]
Is 2017 the Year for Financial Wellness Among Your Employees?
Throughout 2016, newspapers and magazines documented Americans beset by financial concerns. “Evidently, Americans are having a difficult time with their finances. Whatever its cause, their financial insecurity and growing awareness of just how great their insecurity is—inability to cover even a $400 emergency—has created a level of financial stress that is impacting all areas of […]
DOL Announces Final Rule Relating to Disability Benefits Claims Process
The U.S. Department of Labor has announced a final rule requiring that plans, plan fiduciaries, and insurance providers comply with additional procedural protections when dealing with disability benefit claimants.
U.S. Representative Introduces Bill to Repeal Cadillac Tax
On January 4, U.S. Representative Mike Kelly (R-PA) introduced H.R. 173, the Middle Class Health Benefits Tax Repeal Act of 2017. The bill seeks to repeal the so-called “Cadillac Tax” provision within the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The provision, which is currently slated to go into effect January 1, 2020, would impose a 40% excise […]
Ask the Expert: Can We Ask About Applicants’ Salary History?
Question: Can salary history/previous salary on an on-line application be asked as a question?
Variable Pay and Risk Management: Are Mitigation Measures Working?
Where did Wells Fargo wrong, and what can employers using variable pay learn from its experience? Several lessons can be gleaned, and chief among them is that companies walk a fine line between incentivizing employees enough to improve company results without promoting undue risky behaviors.
Don’t Let Your Data or Participants Get Lost in Space
by Mary B. Andersen, CEBS, ERPA, QPA ‘Lost in Space” was a popular television series in the 1960s. Sabotage by crew member Dr. Zachary Smith threw the ship off course and launched endless adventures. Today’s equivalent of Dr. Smith is an unauthorized computer hacker who breaks into data security systems and wreaks havoc on confidential […]