Tag: benefits

Insurance Giant Nixes the Prior Pay Question

Progressive, one of the largest providers of insurance in the United States, has announced its hiring plans for 2018. It has also announced that it will no longer ask job candidates to disclose salary history.

IRS

IRS Issues 2018 Form W-4, Updated for TCJA Changes

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has issued the 2018 version of its Form W-4, which reflects changes made by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA). Employees are not required to resubmit Form W-4 to their employer, but some will find it advisable to do so.

COBRA

COBRA Continuation Coverage: Who Pays?

Most employers are aware that the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) requires group health plans sponsored by covered employers to allow qualified beneficiaries to have “COBRA continuation coverage” in the event that they lose group health plan coverage for specified reasons.

health

Trump Administration Seeks to Expand Short-Term Health Insurance

The Departments of Health and Human Services (HHS), Labor, and the Treasury (the Departments) issued a proposed rule on February 20 seeking to expand the availability of short-term, limited-duration health insurance by allowing consumers to buy plans providing coverage for any period of less than 12 months, rather than the current maximum period of less […]

wellness

Employers Overestimate Impact of Wellness Programs and Incentives on Employees’ Health Behavior

Despite U.S. employers and employees placing a high priority on health and well-being, employees say that employer efforts are falling short of employees’ expectations, according to research from leading global advisory, broking, and solutions company Willis Towers Watson. A majority of employers (56%) believe their well-being programs have encouraged employees to live a healthier lifestyle. […]

Easy Tips for Employers to Handle Recent ACA Penalties

Many large employers have been up in arms about receiving Obamacare penalty notices over the past few months indicating they failed to offer qualifying health coverage in 2015. The penalties are amounting to thousands, if not millions, of dollars that may be due to reporting errors.

HIPAA

Connecticut High Court Reinforces HIPAA as Standard of Care

The Connecticut Supreme Court reinforced an earlier ruling on Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) privacy as a standard of care in a second opinion in Byrne v. Avery Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology PC, SC 19873 (Conn., Jan. 16, 2018).