Benefits Buzz
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released the final regulations about Essential Health Benefits (EHB) on February 20, 2013. The guidance defines the benefits that must be included with all fully insured plans sold inside and outside of the public exchanges in 2014. This will impact all individual health plans and most small group health plans. Grandfathered plans and self-insured plans are exempt from the EHB requirements; however, self-insured plans that cover any EHB must provide coverage without any annual or lifetime dollar limits.
Important milestones are a special time to reflect on the past, celebrate achievements, create a vision for the future, and express appreciation.
This year, we at Flexible Benefit Service LLC (Flex) expect to do no less as we proudly mark our 25th anniversary.
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) mandates that all Americans have health insurance or pay a penalty. If you’re an American, just look to the mirror to see who’s going to be affected.
Last week, President Obama signed the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 (ATRA) into law, which includes tax provisions that affect those who commute to work using mass transportation or vanpools.
Between lengthy meetings at the office, frantic shoppers and frenzied holiday music, it can be hard to stay focused on the fact that the year is coming to a close. In fact, with all the water cooler talk about the world ending it is even anticlimactic.
Just like a certain beloved movie from the ‘80s that used a DeLorean to take us to the future, we now have a vehicle that can be used today, in 2014 and well beyond – defined contribution health benefits.
Health insurance producers and consultants should educate their clients on the defined contribution benefits strategy now because this trend is not going away anytime soon. In fact, nearly 50% of employers “definitely or probably will” switch to defined contribution in 2013.
