Insurance

DOL fills in details about the end of the COVID emergencies

04/03/2023

Once the two pandemic-related emergencies—the national emergency and the public health emergency—end May 11, group health plans can quit providing some benefits free of charge. On July 10, the statutory deadlines for electing health benefits snap back to their pre-pandemic normal. But there’s more to it, and the Department of Labor has issued FAQs clarifying just what’s going to happen on May 11 and July 10.

Survey: 88% of employers to change health and well-being vendors

02/21/2023

To address a broad range of their employees’ needs, most U.S. employers are making changes to their vendors that provide health-care and well-being benefits, according to a new survey by the Willis Towers Watson consulting firm.

Administration floats alternative to opting out of ACA birth control mandate

02/07/2023

The Biden administration wants to roll back a Trump-era rule that allows some employers to opt out of an Affordable Care Act requirement that says employer-provided health insurance must cover contraceptives at no charge to employees.

With COVID emergencies set to expire, prepare for health insurance effects

02/03/2023

The Biden administration has announced that, after more than three years, both the COVID-19 national emergency and the COVID public health emergency will finally expire on May 11. That has implications for terminated employees’ access to COBRA continuation health insurance coverage. It also affects how private insurance plans, such as those sponsored by employers, may cover COVID-related expenses.

Consider coverage issues when employees must travel to receive abortion care

01/25/2023

If your organization operates in a state with a full or partial ban on abortion, it’s likely one or more of your employees seeking an abortion will have to travel out of state to receive care. Here is how to manage some of the complications employers face in the post-Dobbs era.

Weigh HR effect of declining birth rate

01/24/2023

Here’s a trend that could affect when, how and how many employees participate in your benefits program. Millennials—currently between 26 and 41 years old—are waiting longer and longer to have children.

Health costs grew 3.2% in ’22, will grow faster this year

01/17/2023

The average per-employee cost of employer-provided health benefits rose 3.2% in 2022, according to the Mercer consulting firm’s 2022 National Survey of Employer-Sponsored Health Plans, released in December. Brace for higher costs this year.

Spending bill promotes mental-health parity

01/17/2023

Tucked into the mammoth omnibus government spending bill President Biden signed into law on Dec. 29 was a provision that expands the number of public employees whose health insurance plans must now cover mental-health services on a par with coverage offered for other conditions.

Respect for Marriage Act passes; employers, take note

12/21/2022

The Respect for Marriage Act passed into law with bipartisan support in December and protects marriage for LGBTQ+ and interracial couples. The act ensures that a marriage that is legal in one state is recognized by all. Take this opportunity to review your benefits offerings to ensure they align with federal, state and local laws.

On health insurance, voters trust employers over others

12/06/2022

Voters surveyed by the American Benefits Council had good news for employers.