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Insurance

FSAs, HSAs, HRAs: Decoding the alphabet soup of group health plan add-on accounts

08/26/2021
Almost all health plans offer add-on accounts—health flexible spending accounts, health savings accounts or health reimbursement accounts. You need to know how these accounts differ so you can communicate about them to employees. Here are the basics.

Health insurers say covid unlikely to affect 2022 costs

08/10/2021
After a tumultuous year of unpredictable covid-related effects on health care delivery and spending, a review of early rate filings for insurers participating in Affordable Care Act marketplaces finds that most are expecting a return to normal in 2022.

High Court: Only 3 cases affected employers

06/29/2021
No case in this term rose to the level of last year’s Bostock v. Clayton County, a blockbuster decision that said Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 protects employees against discrimination because they are gay or transgender. However, these cases matter to employers.

Affordable Care Act survives latest challenge in the Supreme Court

06/24/2021
For the third time, the U.S. Supreme Court has rejected a challenge to the legality of the Affordable Care Act, leaving the law intact along with its employer coverage obligations and reporting requirements.

Wellness perks evolving to reflect today’s concerns

06/22/2021
Smart employers are looking to beef up wellness programs as they shop for next year’s plan. Three wellness trends are attracting employer attention in the run-up to open enrollment this fall: mental health services, telehealth and workplace safety.

Medicare at age 60 would provide coverage to millions of employees

05/25/2021
As many as 11.7 million employees who currently have employer-sponsored health insurance would be covered by Medicare if eligibility for the program began at age 60 instead of 65, according to an analysis by the nonprofit Kaiser Family Foundation.

Snapshot: Most working-age Americans have health insurance through work

05/25/2021
Participation in employer-sponsored health benefits varies slightly by age.

Employers want government to help control health costs

05/25/2021
Top executives at nearly 90% of large employers surveyed believe the cost of providing health benefits to employees will become unsustainable in the next five to 10 years, and 85% expect the government to intervene to provide coverage and contain costs, according to a new survey.

Ongoing telework brings legal complexities

05/20/2021
Remote work is likely to continue long after the coronavirus crisis subsides. As you contemplate what post-pandemic work will look like, it’s important to recognize the complications inherent to permanent telework arrangements. Factor them into your decision making when setting new policies on remote work and hiring.

Efforts to promote DEI in benefits expected to surge

05/04/2021
The number of employers that will promote diversity, equity and inclusion in their benefit programs is expected to jump sharply over the next three years, according to a new survey by Willis Towers Watson.