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Archive for April, 2015

HRAs, HSAs, and Health FSAs – What’s the Difference? | NY Benefits Broker

April 30th, 2015   |   by admin   |   in Industry News, Surveys

By Danielle Capilla Chief Compliance Officer at United Benefit Advisors Health reimbursement arrangements (HRAs), health savings accounts (HSAs) and health care flexible spending accounts (HFSAs) are generally referred to as account-based plans. That is because each participant has their own account, at least for bookkeeping purposes. Under the tax rules, amounts may be contributed to […]

Wraparound Excepted Benefits to Launch with Two Pilot Programs | NY Employee Benefits

April 27th, 2015   |   by admin   |   in Health Insurance, Health News

By Danielle Capilla Chief Compliance Officer at United Benefit Advisors Health plan sponsors would be permitted to offer wraparound coverage to employees purchasing individual health insurance in the private market, including the Marketplace, in limited circumstances, under a new Final Rule issued by the Department of Labor (DOL) and other federal agencies. The Final Rule, […]

Industry Differences Among Health Savings Accounts | New York Benefits Broker

April 24th, 2015   |   by admin   |   in Health Insurance, Industry News

By Bill Olson Chief Marketing Officer at United Benefit Advisors While recent survey data shows that, on average, employers are decreasing the amount they’re willing to contribute to employee Health Savings Accounts (HSAs), there are some industries that have not seen such trends. On average, employees saw a 10 percent decrease in their average single […]

What Is the Definition of Wellness Programs? | New York Employee Benefits

April 21st, 2015   |   by admin   |   in Wellness

By Jessica Sapp www.livestrong.com Wellness is an active process through which people become aware of, and make choices toward, a more successful existence. This healthy balance of the mind, body, and spirit results in the overall feeling of well-being. Wellness programs are designed to help achieve a state of well-being by providing services focused on […]

Congress Taking (Small) Steps for Employee Wellness Programs | Brio Benefits

April 17th, 2015   |   by admin   |   in Wellness

by Jennifer Kupper In-house Counsel for iaCONSULTING, a UBA Partner Firm The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) specifically encourages and promotes the expansion of wellness programs in both the individual and group markets. In the individual market, the secretaries of the departments of Health and Human Services (HHS), Treasury, and Labor are directed […]

Cost Sharing Limits Changing for 2016 | NY Benefits Broker

April 15th, 2015   |   by admin   |   in PPACA

By Danielle Capilla, Chief Compliance Officer at United Benefit Advisors In Benefit and Payment Parameters for 2016 Final Rule issued in February 2015, federal agencies included a clarification that the annual cost-sharing limitations for self coverage apply to individuals, regardless of individual is covered by self-only plan or is covered by another kind of plan. […]

Congress Taking (Small) Steps for Employee Wellness Programs |New York Benefits Broker

April 10th, 2015   |   by admin   |   in Wellness

By Jennifer Kupper The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) specifically encourages and promotes the expansion of wellness programs in both the individual and group markets. In the individual market, the secretaries of the departments of Health and Human Services (HHS), Treasury, and Labor are directed to establish a pilot program to test the […]

Supreme Court Hears Oral Argument in Subsidy Eligibility Battle | NY Employee Benefits

April 6th, 2015   |   by admin   |   in Industry News

By Danielle Capilla, Chief Compliance Officer at United Benefit Advisors On March 4, 2015, the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments in King v. Burwell, a case that centers on the meaning of statutory language in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA). At question in the case is whether or not the Internal […]

PPACA’s Impact on How CDHPs and HSAs Work Together | New York Employee Benefits

April 2nd, 2015   |   by admin   |   in PPACA

 By Bill Olson, Chief Marketing Officer at United Benefit Advisors Employer health savings account (HSA) funding strategies have changed in recent years in response to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) and its impact on employer-sponsored health insurance plans. Employers are contributing less, on average, to HSAs and the increase in popularity of […]