Employers that sponsor group health plans should provide certain benefit notices in connection with their plans’ open enrollment periods. Some of these notices must be provided at open enrollment time, such as the summary of benefits and coverage (SBC). Other notices, such as the Women’s Health and Cancer Rights Act (WHCRA) notice, must be distributed…
When implemented successfully, workplace wellness programs can reduce health care costs, increase employee productivity and reduce absenteeism. While some wellness programs encourage participation, others are results-oriented, meaning employees are encouraged to meet certain health goals or metrics. At American Health & Wellness, health coaches and integrated nutritionists design wellness strategies tailored to meet the needs…
Over the course of the pandemic, many employees refrained from changing jobs due to high levels of uncertainty, along with mental and physical health issues. Now, as things return to normal, experts predict a massive wave of turnover in the second half of 2021. Open enrollment this year provides a fantastic opportunity for organizations to…
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) imposes a fee on health insurance issuers and self-insured plan sponsors in order to fund comparative effectiveness research. These fees are widely known as Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) fees, and were originally scheduled to expire for plan or policy years ending on or after Oct. 1, 2019. However, a…
At American Health & Wellness, health coaches and integrated nutritionists design wellness strategies tailored to meet the needs of employees and create a culture of wellness. Long-term solutions that deliver healthier outcomes, greater productivity and lower healthcare costs. WELCOA has identified 7 best practices for employers to follow when building a successful workplace wellness program.
On May 10, 2021, the IRS released Revenue Procedure 2021-25 to provide the inflation-adjusted limits for health savings accounts (HSAs) and high deductible health plans (HDHPs) for 2022. The IRS is required to publish these limits by June 1 of each year. These limits include: The maximum HSA contribution limit; The minimum deductible amount for…
The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), signed into law March 11, 2021, provides a 100% subsidy of premiums for employer-sponsored group health insurance continued under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1986 (COBRA) and similar state continuation of coverage (mini-COBRA) programs. ARPA subsidies cover the full cost of COBRA or mini-COBRA premiums from April 1, 2021, through Sept….
At American Health & Wellness we provide all of our employees with top tier telehealth services. These services are useful for employers interested in cutting their health care expenses and expanding benefits and access to care for their employees. This is the process of communicating with a doctor via an app, or a webcam and…
On Dec. 27, 2020, President Trump signed the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 into law. The Act provides temporary special rules for health and dependent care flexible spending accounts (FSAs) that give employees additional time to use these funds. Extended Periods Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, employees may be more likely to have unused amounts in health…
An appropriations bill, which was signed into law on Dec. 27, 2020, does not extend the leave mandates created by the Emergency Family and Medical Leave Expansion Act (EFMLA) and the Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act (EPSLA), which expire on Dec. 31, 2020. As a result, the requirement for employers to provide employee paid sick leave and expanded…