By Danielle Capilla Chief Compliance Officer at United Benefit Advisors The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recently issued a final rule implementing Section 1557 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), which will take effect on July 18, 2016. If entities need to make changes to health insurance or group health … Continued
By Danielle Capilla Chief Compliance Officer at United Benefit Advisors After a long wait, the Department of Labor (DOL) has released the revisions to the white collar overtime exemption rules in the Fair Labor Standards Act. The new rule becomes effective on December 1, 2016. Generally speaking, the Fair Labor Standards Act applies to employees … Continued
www.thinkhr.com Under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), each Health Insurance Exchange (Marketplace) must notify employers when they have an employee who has received a government subsidy to enroll in a health plan through the Marketplace. These notices will begin being sent to employers in the coming weeks and months, either individually or in batches. Because … Continued
By Geoff Mukhtar Communications Manager at United Benefit Advisors Eighty-one percent of employees have elected vision benefits in 2016, up from 78 percent last year, according to Transitions. This increase moved vision into a tie with dental as the second most popular benefit election behind medical. Digital eye strain, which is detailed by a report … Continued
By Danielle Capilla Chief Compliance Officer at United Benefit Advisors From 2013 to 2015, a series of Supreme Court cases and government updates have changed the landscape of the way employers must consider same-sex spouses in relation to employee benefits. Most recently, in June 2015, the Supreme Court ruled in Obergefell v. Hodges, that the … Continued
By Barb Nefer www.livestrong.com Insurance is designed to offset major expenses in various life areas. For example, a homeowner’s policy covers damage to your house, while car insurance pays for repairs after an auto accident. Medical policies do not cover dental work, but you can get dedicated dental insurance. Dental policies vary, and many limit … Continued
By Geoff Mukhtar Communications Manager at United Benefit Advisors Many employers have done an excellent job of integrating financial wellness programs with their employees in order for them to improve their overall financial well-being. However, the most significant progress appears to be when employees actually speak with a qualified human being rather than relying on … Continued
By Danielle Capilla Chief Compliance Officer at United Benefit Advisors In serving 36,000 employers and 5 million employees, our UBA Partners get this question frequently: What federal guidance prohibits employers from reimbursing individual health insurance policies? Answer: The IRS has issued extensive guidance prohibiting employers from reimbursing health insurance policies on an individual basis. It … Continued
By Patty Tansang www.livestrong.com Overview A physical examination may be needed when you purchase a life insurance policy, especially for larger benefit amounts. Insurance underwriters use a multitude of factors to determine your risk of premature death, and hence, how much premium you will be charged. In addition to asking about your medical history (including … Continued
By Danielle Capilla Chief Compliance Officer at United Benefit Advisors The government was busy recently, issuing the massive Benefit Payment and Parameters rule in addition to numerous other updates. Our recent blog reviews the updates to the Benefit Payment and Parameters rule; for more detailed information as it relates to standardized plans, small employer definition, … Continued