by Linda Rowings On September 18, 2014, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) issued Notice 2014-55 which allows employers to amend their Section 125 plans to recognize several new change in status events. Open Enrollment in the Health Insurance Marketplace Prior to this new notice, an opportunity to enroll in the health insurance Marketplace (or “exchange”) […]
By Peter Freska, MPH, CEBS Benefits Advisor, The LBL Group A United Benefit Advisors Partner Firm The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) is driving companies to look at many aspects of their organization more strategically. With an estimated 2.5 million people in Professional Employer Group (PEO) arrangements totaling $92 billion in annual revenue, […]
by Jennifer Kupper It is back to school time! Universities and colleges across the nation have dedicated time and resources to course planning and curriculum evaluation, but have they prepared for the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA)? Have they run the numbers, solved for unknown variables, and double-checked their answers? PPACA requires applicable […]
Question: How does an employer go about using the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) to address an employee’s performance problems that may be related to issues outside of work? Answer: The employer should contact the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) directly and request a review of the process for making referrals. In general, during the implementation process, […]
By Elizabeth Kay Focused provider networks (aka skinny or narrow) are nothing new to the health insurance marketplace. Insurance carriers have been using different sized provider networks in their HMO and PPO portfolios for many years now. The concept is familiar to most of us. If you offer a smaller provider network, you can offer […]
by Mike Humphrey Communicating the value of benefits is an age-old dilemma further complicated now that many employers are making big plan changes to comply with the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA). As more and more employers move to high deductible health plans, making employees aware of how to use their benefits and […]
1. What must I do to avoid the employer taxes? Beginning in 2015, if you average enough full-time employees or full-time employee equivalents during a calendar year to be considered an “applicable large employer,” to avoid the shared-responsibility penalty you must provide medical coverage that: Provides “minimum essential coverage;” and Is “affordable” and provides “minimum […]
As of January 1, 2014, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) requires pediatric dental benefits to be one of the 10 essential health benefits (EHB) that must be included in individual and small group medical coverage, as well as coverage offered through the Exchanges. The EHB dental benefit applies to children ages 0-18. […]