To The Point Podcast

Listen to learn what additional services are now included in the preventive care list for HSA-qualified HDHPs and how to implement them.

There are many pieces that go into communication, incentives and getting senior leadership on board. Tune in to learn what you need to make your wellness program successful.

The new rules will allow employer funded HRAs to be used to pay for individual health insurance policies and create a new type of stand-alone HRA. However, there are a lot of details to consider before diving in. Listen in to learn more about these new options.

Legal activity regarding the ACA continues to make its way through the courts. With the 2020 election on the horizon and healthcare still a hot topic, we expect to see an uptick in attempted legislation and efforts in both directions. Tune in to hear a discussion on ACA updates. www.lpinsurance.com

Recently, a federal judge ruled that parts of the Trump administration’s 2018 final rule on association health plans were invalid. The court then directed the Department of Labor to reconsider how the remaining provisions of the final rule are affected. The court called the final rule an “end-run” around the Affordable Care Act and said that the DOL exceeded its authority under ERISA. And then just last week the DOL responded in disagreement with the court’s ruling and the DOL filed a notice of appeal. Listen to this podcast to find out what parts of the rule were struck down, and how the DOL’s response may impact the future of AHPs. www.lpinsurance.com

Did you know that a rehired employee cannot be asked to re-satisfy a waiting period for benefits eligibility if they return to work with 13 weeks of their termination date? Tune in to learn the rules surrounding rehired or reinstated employees and where exceptions may exist.

As health costs and employer expenditures increase, more employers are considering innovative strategies to help lower health care costs. As with any new strategy, it is important for employers to do their homework and thoroughly evaluate options before jumping in. This podcast offers a discussion of the potential benefits and pitfalls for employers to consider.

On December 20, 2018 the Federal Register published the final rule from the EEOC removing the part of the regulations related to incentive limits for medical questions and exams under a wellness program. If this sounds familiar to what we heard from the Court in Dec 2017, that’s because it is. But does the absence of any limit mean employers shouldn’t incentivize wellness programs any longer? Tune in to find out.

In October 2017, President Trump issued an Executive Order calling on the departments to take action on a handful of specific tasks, one of which was to expand the use of Health Reimbursement Arrangements (HRAs). We finally saw proposed guidance on this in late October 2018 when two new types of HRAs were introduced. Listen in to learn more about these proposed HRAs and how they might impact employers.

Listen to our year-end podcast for a review of the major 2018 benefits compliance milestones and a look forward to 2019, including a discussion on the recent ruling by the federal judge in Texas who declared the ACA unconstitutional.

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act created a general business tax credit for eligible employers of all sizes that provide paid family and medical leave to their employees for tax years 2018 and 2019 only. For employers that already provide paid short term disability, this might be low hanging fruit, and that’s why we’re addressing this as part of a benefits podcast.

On Nov. 7, 2018, the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and the Treasury finalized two rules expanding certain exemptions from the ACA’s contraceptive coverage mandate. The first final rule expands the exemption for employers that object to providing contraceptive coverage based on their sincerely held religious beliefs. The second final rule provides an exemption for certain employers that object to providing contraceptive coverage based on their non-religious moral convictions. Listen in to learn more about these final rules and their implications.

Open enrollment is such an important time of year! Don't overlook some important compliance reminders. Listen to this podcast for a few dos and don'ts to help make sure your company is all set for a new plan year. Learn more: www.lpinsurance.com

This question comes up often. Before extending these type programs to your non-medical plan participants, be sure to listen to this podcast to become aware of reasons this could be potentially problematic, and to learn a couple solutions. www.lpinsurance.com

The House Ways and Means Committee recently approved 11 bills that increase the flexibility of HSA and FSA plans and also focus on delaying the implementation of some of the provisions of the Affordable Care Act. Employers may need to be ready to act nimbly should these bills come to fruition by the end of 2018. Listen in to learn what might be impacted.

In October 2017, President Trump issued an Executive Order including 3 things aimed at unraveling pieces of the Affordable Care Act when efforts in Congress failed to do so. One of those items was to seek more relaxed regulations on association health plans as a way to allow individuals and businesses the opportunity to purchase policies across state lines and avoid some ACA requirements. However, there are a few things employers should understand before forming or jumping into an association. Tune in to this podcast to learn more.

The IRS recently released the HSA contribution limits, HDHP deductible and out of pocket limits, and the ACA out of pocket limits for 2019. The interaction of these limits can be confusing due to embedded OOP requirements and other considerations. Tune in for a brief explanation from our ERISA attorney on how to design a compliant plan with these new limits in 2019. Learn more: www.lpinsurance.com

There has been an uptick in the volume of DOL audits in recent years. The timeframe to respond to an audit notice is short and it is important to be prepared. Tune in to this podcast to learn how to be ready and to debunk some DOL audit myths. Learn more: www.lpinsurance.com

The IRS recently lowered the maximum annual HSA family contribution limit for 2018 to $6,850, a $50 decrease from the prior limit of $6900. Listen to learn why this happened and what action needs to be taken by employers and any individuals who may have already or intend to max-fund their account.

The DOL has been talking for a while about applying new claims regulations to ERISA covered disability plans. These regulations were originally to apply to claims filed on or after January 1, 2018, but a 90 day delay modified the effective date to April 1, 2018. To learn what these new regulations are, what plans are impacted and what action employers need to take, be sure to listen to this podcast.