In just a few days’ time, recently promulgated federal final rules addressing sex-based nondiscrimination in the administration of health care benefits have created a flurry of healthcare industry activity. The angst arises...more
5/9/2024
/ Affordable Care Act ,
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) ,
Compensation & Benefits ,
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) ,
Employee Benefits ,
Employer Group Health Plans ,
Final Rules ,
Health Insurance ,
Healthcare ,
Healthcare Reform ,
Non-Discrimination Rules ,
Sex Discrimination
Signed into law by President Trump on December 22, the final version of the tax reform bill (the “Act”) is not as far-reaching on executive compensation as the earlier version we previewed. However, the Act makes several...more
With Open Enrollment season just around the corner, employers have been hoping for answers regarding the direction of health insurance under the Trump Administration. However, it’s looking like clarity is a long way off....more
An Affordable Care Act (ACA) provision that is often-overlooked by the media, but has impacted the ability of insurers and their non-insurance related entities, in their role as employers, to take tax deductions for certain...more
3/9/2017
/ Affordable Care Act ,
Compensation & Benefits ,
Employee Benefits ,
Employer Mandates ,
Executive Compensation ,
Health Insurance ,
Healthcare Reform ,
Insurance Industry ,
IRS ,
Proposed Legislation ,
Tax Deductions ,
Trump Administration
Matt welcomes his colleague Beth Alcalde to discuss Obamacare – stripped of political rhetoric. In the first of this two-part podcast, Matt and Beth discuss the ACA's operational functionality, ways in which it succeeded,...more
Many employers offer some type of “wellness program” to their employees as a way to improve employee health and reduce healthcare spending. Wellness programs can be called many different things, including “weight loss...more
Many employers offer some type of "wellness program" to their employees as a way to improve employee health and reduce healthcare spending. Wellness programs can be called many different things, including "weight loss...more
On December 28, 2015, the IRS announced in Notice 2016-4 that the deadlines for complying with the new reporting requirements under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) will be temporarily extended for purposes of 2015 coverage....more
On December 28, 2015, the IRS announced in Notice 2016-4 that the deadlines for complying with the new reporting requirements under the Affordable Care Act (“ACA”) will be temporarily extended for purposes of 2015 coverage....more
With ACA reporting deadlines quickly approaching, many employers should be preparing to address the various reporting requirements in order to avoid the significant fines and penalties associated with non-compliance. As of...more
Business leaders and human resources and employee benefits professionals are well aware of potential minefields for employer group health plan sponsors under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Large employer plan sponsors are...more
8/7/2015
/ Affordable Care Act ,
Best Practices ,
Employee Benefits ,
Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) ,
Employees ,
Employer Group Health Plans ,
Full-Time Employees ,
Health Insurance ,
Healthcare ,
Part-Time Employees ,
Wage and Hour
With the Affordable Care Act's Employer Mandate (Pay-or-Play penalties) now officially in effect, employers with 50 or more full-time or full-time-equivalent employees should have already made all significant changes to their...more
2/19/2015
/ Affordable Care Act ,
Corporate Counsel ,
Employer Group Health Plans ,
Employer Mandates ,
Health Insurance ,
King v Burwell ,
Pay or Play ,
Popular ,
Reporting Requirements ,
Subsidies ,
Summary of Benefits and Coverage
As 2014 winds down, plan sponsors are likely thinking ahead to some of the significant changes that will take effect in 2015, most notably, the employer "pay or play" mandate under the ACA. However, there are two deadlines...more
Certain employers hoped that they had discovered a way to "have their cake and eat it too". In response to the looming employer mandate for employers with 50 or more employees – the requirement to offer full - time employees...more
Employers in all industries are well aware of the complexities of the Affordable Care Act, and the seemingly constant barrage of guidance that interprets the health care reform requirements that apply to them. We have a...more
As we approach the end of the year, employers and plan sponsors of qualified retirement plans and health and welfare plans should take time to meet various upcoming deadlines. Failure to comply with the deadlines may result...more
11/25/2013
/ 401k ,
Affordable Care Act ,
Cafeteria Plans ,
COBRA ,
Deadlines ,
Department of Labor (DOL) ,
DOMA ,
Employee Benefits ,
Flexible Spending Accounts ,
GINA ,
Health and Welfare Plans ,
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) ,
Healthcare ,
Healthcare Reform ,
Hurricane Sandy ,
IRS ,
Mental Health Parity Rule ,
MHPAEA ,
Qualified Health Plans ,
Reporting Requirements ,
Same-Sex Marriage ,
W-2 ,
Year-End Planning
What is the "temporary reinsurance fee"? The Affordable Care Act ("ACA") requires the creation of a transitional reinsurance program for the first three years (2014-2016) of the state health insurance exchanges to help...more
Traditional employment laws often interact with traditional employee benefit laws. One such example is the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)'s impact on employer-sponsored group health plans. As group health plan costs...more
4/3/2013
/ Affordable Care Act ,
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) ,
Conditional Job Offers ,
Disability ,
Disability Discrimination ,
Discrimination ,
Employer Group Health Plans ,
GINA ,
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) ,
Healthcare ,
Hiring & Firing
2013 is shaping up to be a very busy year for employers in all industries, with the continued implementation of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act ("ACA"). Recognizing that in 2014, applicable large employers will...more
Many important aspects of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act ("ACA") will go into effect in 2014, including the implementation of health insurance exchanges, and the requirement for certain employers to offer...more