As we look forward to 2020, we bring you a few key takeaways on the hot topics and trends that individuals operating in the employee benefits space are watching in health and welfare, plan sponsor considerations, executive compensation, fiduciary, and fringe benefits.

Health and Welfare Preventive Care Services. Section 223 of the Internal Revenue Code permits eligible individuals who are covered under a high-deductible health plan (HDHP) to establish a health savings account (HSA) to help with out-of-pocket costs associated with the HDHP. An HDHP can offer preventive care services at no cost-sharing to participants and individuals will still maintain HSA eligibility. The IRS has provided a safe harbor definition on what preventive care services are: generally, services that don’t treat any ongoing medical conditions. The latest IRS guidance, Notice 2019-45, tries to make HDHPs more appealing by expanding the definition of preventive care services.