By Danielle Capilla Chief Compliance Officer at United Benefit Advisors Federal agencies released final regulations on the preventive services mandate of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) that requires non-grandfathered group health plans to provide coverage without cost-sharing for specific preventive services, which for women include contraceptive services. After pushback from religious employers, … Continued
By Bill Olson Chief Marketing Officer at United Benefit Advisors Most employers have been using multi-tier prescription drug plans for many years, but new data released from the 2014 UBA Health Plan Survey shows a significant increase in the use of 4-tier plans, which typically cover the highest cost drugs, as well as major increases … Continued
www.newsusa.com According to the American Optometric Association’s (AOA) 2015 American Eye-Q survey, 41 percent of parents say their kids spend three or more hours per day using digital devices, and 66 percent of kids have their own smartphone or tablet. It’s clear children’s use of digital technology continues to be an integral part of their … Continued
By Jennifer Kupper In-house Counsel for iaCONSULTING a UBA Partner Firm The Affordable Care Act’s Employer-Shared Responsibility (ESR), otherwise known as Play or Pay, is here! Not only are employers struggling to apply the once-abstract-but-now-actual complex and convoluted rules and regulations, employers are facing yet another hurdle – Affordable Care Act (ACA) Information Returns (AIR). … Continued
By Danielle Capilla, Chief Compliance Officer at United Benefit Advisors Cafeteria plans, or plans governed by IRS Code Section 125, allow employers to help employees pay for expenses such as health insurance with pre-tax dollars. Employees are given a choice between a taxable benefit (cash) and two or more specified pre-tax qualified benefits, for example, … Continued
By Angharad Evans www.copyright-free-content.com Want the advantages of sunscreen, without putting artificial substances on your skin or into the water? There are a variety of top natural sunscreens now available that give you great sun protection without the guilt. But not all “natural” brands offer the same benefits. Here is what to expect from the … Continued
By Danielle Capilla Chief Compliance Officer at United Benefit Advisors The Supreme Court issued its opinion in King v. Burwell, holding that the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) may issue regulations to extend tax-credit subsidies to coverage purchased through Exchanges established by the federal government under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA). The six-to-three … Continued
By Danielle Capilla Chief Compliance Officer at United Benefit Advisors The employer shared responsibility (i.e., “play or pay”) requirements went into effect in 2015 for large employers only (those with 100 or more full-time or full-time-equivalent employees). Even though they generally will not be liable for penalties until 2016, mid-size employers (employers with 50 to … Continued
By Danielle Capilla Chief Compliance Officer at United Benefit Advisors Recently, federal agencies, including the Department of Labor (DOL), issued a short five-question FAQ on two ACA-related issues: limitations on cost-sharing and provider discrimination. The FAQ further clarified that the self-only maximum annual limitation on cost sharing applies to each individual, regardless of whether the … Continued
www.newsusa.com For the first time in modern history, America’s workforce spans four generations. In this new era of multigenerational workers, a “one size fits all” approach to health insurance is a thing of the past. The generational gap is as varied as it is immense. There are the young-adult Millennials, the middle-aged Gen Xers, Baby … Continued