The Wage and Hour Division (WHD) of the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has issued Opinion Letter FMLA2024-01-A, stating that leave under the federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) may be used by employees to participate in treatment that is part of a clinical trial. The letter was issued Nov. 8, 2024, in response …
FMLA Leave May Be Used to Participate in Clinical Trials Read More »
Each year, the Kaiser Family Foundation conducts a survey to examine trends in employer-sponsored health benefits. This article summarizes the main points of the 2024 Employer Health Benefits Survey. Health Insurance Premiums In 2024, the average premiums for employer-sponsored health insurance were $8,951 for single coverage and $25,572 for family coverage. The average single and …
Summary of the 2024 Employer Health Benefits Annual Survey Read More »
The U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) recently published a report examining employee benefits in the country. The estimates in the report are from the BLS’ National Compensation Survey, which measures costs and trends related to employer-provided benefits. The survey represents more than 146 million civilian workers in private industry and …
Key Takeaways From the DOL’s Employee Benefits Report Read More »
Each year, Medicare Part D requires group health plan sponsors to disclose to individuals who are eligible for Medicare Part D and to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) whether the health plan’s prescription drug coverage is creditable. Plan sponsors must provide the annual disclosure notice to Medicare-eligible individuals before Oct. 15, 2024—the start …
Medicare Part D Notices Are Due Before Oct. 15, 2024 Read More »
The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), through its Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA), has released a new model Employer CHIP Notice with information current as of July 31, 2024. Background As a reminder, the Children’s Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2009 (CHIPRA) imposes an annual notice requirement on employers that maintain group health plans …
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) requires health insurance issuers and self-insured plan sponsors to pay Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute fees (PCORI fees). The fees are reported and paid annually using IRS Form 720, the Quarterly Federal Excise Tax Return. Form 720 and full payment of the PCORI fees are due by July 31 of each year, …
A recent U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) final rule increases the salary thresholds used to determine whether executive, administrative and professional (EAP) employees are exempt from overtime pay under federal law. While the increased thresholds are likely to result in a significant number of employees who were previously exempt now qualifying for overtime pay, employers …
How the DOL’s New Overtime Rule Could Impact Employee Benefits Read More »
Understanding PEOs: Pros, Cons, and When They’re the Right Fit for Your Business In the complex landscape of employee benefits and workforce management, businesses often seek solutions that streamline operations, ensure compliance, and offer competitive benefits to employees. One such solution that has gained traction is the Professional Employer Organization (PEO). But what exactly is …
Understanding PEOs: Pros, Cons, and When They’re the Right Fit for Your Business Read More »
The IRS has released the inflation-adjusted limit for excepted benefit health reimbursement arrangements (EBHRAs) for plan years beginning on or after Jan. 1, 2025. Effective for 2025 plan years, the maximum annual employer contribution for an EBHRA will increase to $2,150 (up from $2,100 for plan years beginning in 2024). Excepted Benefit HRAs An EBHRA …
IRS Announces Excepted Benefit HRA Limit for 2025 Read More »
Enforcement of the strict standards of fiduciary conduct set forth in the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) has traditionally been reserved for retirement plan sponsors. However, a new class action lawsuit highlights the importance of employers’ adherence to their fiduciary duties when managing their group health plans. The lawsuit, filed against Johnson & Johnson …
Group Health Plan Fiduciary Litigation on the Rise Read More »
