Letters released this summer by the IRS continue to point to the agency moving forward with its plans to enforce the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The IRS has … Read more
What Employers Can Expect In the First Days of the Trump Administration
There are many pieces of legislation or policy matters affecting the employee experience that are likely to be in flux during the first part of Mr. Trump’s … Read more
Visas, Leave and the ACA: How Trump and Clinton Compare
As you weigh the pros and cons of each presidential candidate against your own personal beliefs and values, don’t forget to consider how each nominee could … Read more
Cap To Rise on Flexible Spending Accounts, But Late For Open Enrollment
Health flexible spending accounts (FSAs) are a very valuable benefit to many employees, especially as employers have increased employee cost sharing with … Read more
Study Finds a $550 Incentive Doesn’t Motivate Workers to Lose Weight
By Michelle Andrews, Kaiser Health News Promising workers lower health insurance premiums for losing weight did nothing to help them take off the pounds, a … Read more
Feds Propose New Rule For Collecting Employee Wellness Information
By Julie Appleby, Kaiser Health News Federal regulators announced a proposed rule Thursday allowing voluntary employer workplace wellness programs to ask … Read more
Here’s an Early HR Scare: 5 Ways That the IRS 1095 Form Reminds Us of Halloween
Hot on the heels of annual enrollment, employers’ next benefits communication challenge is just around the corner. In a few months, HR will need to send … Read more
4 Reasons Companies are Turning to Private Exchanges For Health Care
The Affordable Care Act has changed the way American people and businesses approach health insurance. In fact, many companies are deciding to forego their … Read more
7 Questions Your Employee’s Need You To Answer About Your Wellness Privacy
By Jay Hancock and Julie Appleby, Kaiser Health News If your company hasn’t launched a wellness program, this might be the year. Yes, more employers than … Read more
As Wellness Programs Boom, Employees Get Pressured to Share Personal Data
By Jay Hancock, Kaiser Health News Houston workers who checked the fine print said they weren’t sure whether they were joining an employee wellness program … Read more
Study Finds That More Health Care Expenses Are Getting Shifted to Workers
By Jay Hancock, Kaiser Health News Premiums for job-based medical insurance rose moderately — 4 percent in 2015 — but employers continued to shift in … Read more
Open Enrollment Lesson: Small Changes Can Have a Big Impact on Coverage or Costs
By Michelle Andrews, Kaiser Health News During this fall’s open enrollment period, workers who get health insurance through their employers may not see … Read more
Large Employers Planning To Tightly Manage Employee Use of Expensive Drugs
By Lisa Gillespie, Kaiser Health News More than half of large employers in 2016 will aim to more tightly manage employees’ use of high-priced specialty … Read more
Big Challenges Are Looming For HR With Affordable Care Act Compliance
The U.S. Supreme Court’s recent decision in favor of the administration in King v. Burwell should erase any lingering doubt that complying with the … Read more
High-Deductible Health Plans: Savings Now, But Problems For Workers Later?
Got a high-deductible health plan? The kind that doesn’t pay most medical bills until they exceed several thousand dollars? If so, you or your employees … Read more
Study: Obamacare Has Little Impact on Employer-Sponsored Health Coverage
There has been much hand wringing over the health law requirement that large employers this year offer insurance to workers who put in 30 or more hours a … Read more
Can Your Company Require an Employee to Buy Health Insurance?
Under the Affordable Care Act, large employers that don’t offer their full-time workers comprehensive, affordable health insurance face a fine. But some … Read more
Congress Looks to Provide Clarity on Employee Wellness Programs
By Ilyse Wolens Schuman and Michael J. Lotito As promised during a Senate hearing conducted earlier this year, members of the House and Senate have … Read more
Senate Committee Told EEOC Must Provide Guidance on Wellness Plans
Editor’s note: Weekly Wrap is taking the week off. It will return next Friday. By Ilyse Wolens Schuman Recent actions by the Equal Employment … Read more
What Is a Full-Time Employee? Senate Panel Hears It’s Not 30 Hours a Week
By Ilyse Wolens Schuman During the first employment-related hearing conducted Friday by the new Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions … Read more