legislation

Posted November 29th, 2023 in Employers, Producers

There is a new annual compliance requirement that applies to “plans” and “issuers.” For the avoidance of doubt, the term plan means employer and the term issuer means health insurance carrier.

Each year, employers and health insurance carriers must submit a gag clause prohibition compliance attestation. This will be due by December 31st of each year with the first attestation due by December 31, 2023. So, what does this really mean?

Posted October 18th, 2023 in Employers, Producers, Individuals

The House Ways and Means Committee recently cleared legislation which would make substantial enhancements and improvements to Health Savings Accounts (HSAs). There are two bills which have now been cleared for a vote in the House of Representatives (House). If passed in the House, the bills would then need to be approved by the Senate before going to the president for signature.
 

Posted August 9th, 2023 in Employers, Producers

The state of Illinois has passed a law known as the Transportation Benefits Program Act which will require some employers in the Chicago metropolitan area to offer pre-tax transportation benefits to their employees.

Posted April 8th, 2021 in Employers, Producers

The Department of Labor (DOL) issued an FAQ on April 7, 2021 relative to the application of COBRA subsidies authorized under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA). The information below summarizes the content of the FAQ.

Model Notices

The DOL has provided the following model notices:

Posted March 16th, 2021 in Employers, Producers, Individuals

On March 11, 2021, President Joseph Biden signed into law the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). ARPA is the third stimulus package signed into law in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Under ARPA, two significant provisions were included that will help more Americans obtain and pay for health insurance coverage.

Posted January 26th, 2021 in Employers, Producers, Individuals

Joseph Biden was sworn in as the 46th President of the United States less than one week ago, and he has already introduced his ideas for a third economic stimulus package.

Posted January 19th, 2021 in Employers, Producers

The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 was signed into law on December 27, 2020. As part of the law, a new stimulus package was included that impacts Health and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts (Health and Dependent Care FSAs).

Posted December 29th, 2020 in Employers, Producers, Individuals

President Donald Trump signed a new stimulus bill into law on December 27, 2020 which will provide direct payments to eligible individuals and loans to small businesses, among other things. Among those other things are temporary and optional changes that employers can implement to Health and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts (Health FSAs and Dependent Care FSAs).

Posted May 21st, 2019 in Employers, Producers, Individuals

New Jersey has become the first state to require certain employers to offer qualified transportation benefits (i.e. Commuter Plans) to employees. Some metropolitan areas including New York City, San Francisco, Seattle and Washington D.C. have passed similar laws that require certain employers to make Commuter Plans available to their employees, but no state has mandated this benefit until now.

Posted May 16th, 2019 in Producers, Employers, Individuals

Last December, a federal judge in Texas District Court ruled that the Affordable Care Act (ACA) was unconstitutional. The decision came in response to a lawsuit filed by 20 Republican state attorneys general. These attorneys general argued that the ACA was unconstitutional because there is no longer a penalty associated with the Individual Mandate, and the judge agreed.

Benefits Buzz

SUBSCRIBE TO THE FLEX BLOG

Tag Cloud

Archives

Stay Connected