To The Point Podcast

These changes specifically impact the Form 1095-B & Form 1095-C distribution deadline and good faith transition relief. Be sure to listen in to the important information shared in this podcast.

Join us and listen to this podcast for reminders on what needs to be done before the end of 2021, and how to start preparing for specific tasks in 2022.

Tuning-in, you'll hear from two speakers on trending topics and more.Bob Radecki is president, senior regulatory and public policy analyst at Benefit Comply, LLC, an employee benefits compliance consulting firm. Bob will discuss the end of the 100% COBRA subsidy authorized under the American Rescue Plan Act, health cost transparency rules and surprise billing regulations, vaccine incentives and mandates, and more opportunities for consideration of Individual Coverage HRAs (ICHRAs).Joel Wood is the senior vice president for government affairs of The Council of Insurance Agents & Brokers and also oversees CouncilPAC, the association’s political action committee. Joel will share his unique perspective on the Supreme Court’s ACA decision and thoughts on the Biden Administration’s health insurance goals, public options at the State Level, 2022 Elections and possible outcomes’ impact on legislation, as well as comment on cost transparency related to health cost transparency rules and recent surprise billing reg

Productivity Consultants & Career Support Services (PCCSS) was founded in 1999 as an image-consulting firm that focused on career and personal branding. Since then, the organization has evolved into a boutique human capital and career development firm designed to facilitate change management for individual and organizational clients.Based on the belief that human learning, training, and performance improvement initiatives should lead to quantifiable outcomes, the organization focuses on analyzing the performance challenges for individuals and within private and non-profit organizations as they relate to productivity and success.Learn more: https://productivityconsultants.org/index.php

Listen in to this episode as we discuss what can and cannot be part of an employer’s vaccine policy, where restrictions or limitations may exist and, surprisingly, where they do not, and other considerations to take into account. 

At OneVillage, they provide a space for everyone that has been touched by cancer.Over the course of their lifetime, 40% of people will be diagnosed with cancer, and the remaining 60% will support at least 4 loved ones through cancer. OneVillage is one place to find the resources, products, community, and support you need when cancer enters your life. Learn more: https://onevillage.io/

As a result, Congress enhanced the FFCRA leave under ARPA to include paid leave related to the vaccine, among other enhancements, and extended the payroll tax credits even further. Listen to this conversation to learn how else the FFCRA was updated and what you need to know. 

The subsidy will cover the full cost of COBRA or state continuation premiums from April 1st, through Sept. 30, 2021 if the employee lost or loses group health insurance due to a reduction in work hours or an involuntary job loss. Be sure to listen to this episode to better understand who is eligible and the various employer obligations associated.

Let’s face it – navigating the HR technology market is complex. Advisors need help educating and guiding employers. With BTR’s Core Service offering, they aim to increase your agency’s tech “fluency” and provide the technology foundation you need to empower and educate your client base.ENGAGEMENTCE-accredited webinars tailored for employersAgency-specific learning workshopsDynamic communication campaigns & client-facing marketing materialsPreferred access to Consulting and Benefits Administration servicesKNOWLEDGEAccess to BTR’s centralized database for competitive technology and vendor intelVendor summaries, conference recaps, blog posts, and white papersQuarterly technology updatesShowcase of agency’s ROI via monthly utilization reportsSTRATEGYAssigned, dedicated HR technology consultant and project managerMonthly collaborative strategy callsMarket researchStrategy discussions with prospective clients

This gives companies an enticing benefit that uniquely serves every employee in the organization. And it all works within the system you have in place today.It’s savvy to reduce PTO balance sheet liabilities while enhancing talent recruiting and retention. In simple terms, it pays off for both HR and Finance. Both will appreciate the returns for enhancing PTO benefits and reducing corporate liability.To learn more, please contact Lipscomb & Pitts Insurance's Director of Client Engagement, Betsy Kamler at betsyk@lpinsurance.com or 901-321-1000. 

Rain provides a modern approach to payroll for mid-sized organizations, a benefit that has already been rolled out for companies like Walmart and Uber. Their mission is to regrow individual freedom by giving people control over their income and finances.  Rain is killing predatory financial products like payday loans and overdraft fees. They're backed by QED, a leading venture capital firm based out of Alexandria, Virginia, who has invested in notable companies like Credit Karma, ClearScore, Creditas, and many more. Rain's founders are highly experienced and excited about bringing greater financial freedoms to American workers and being a large part of the movement to end payday loans with high interest rates. Last year, Americans spent $170B while waiting for their next paycheck. Fees for payday loans, credit cards, overdrafts, and low balances add up. 72% of Americans who are living paycheck-to-paycheck are stuck in this debt trap and could benefit from early wage access. How does Rain work? Rain is free an

Alcohol is the most used substance by youth and adults in the United States. According to the National Institute of Health’s 2020 Monitoring the Future Survey, 55.3% of high school seniors used alcohol in the past year. Results of the 2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), demonstrated that 85.6 percent of people ages 18 or older reported that they drank alcohol at some point in their lifetime; 69.5 percent reported that they drank in the past year; 54.9 percent reported that they drank in the past month. In 2019, 25.8 percent of people ages 18 or older reported that they engaged in binge drinking in the past month; 6.3 percent reported that they engaged in heavy alcohol use in the past month. Alcohol is the third leading cause of preventable death in the United States. About 95,000 Americans die from alcohol-related causes each year.

While the Consolidated Appropriations Act (CAA) favorably addressed options for employers to extend to employees with year-end balances in their health and dependent care flexible spending accounts, the Act left many questions unanswered in regard to the mechanics and potential tax consequences of these accommodations. 

However, in true government fashion, on the last business day before Feb 28th, the DOL released clarification of their guidance indicating that the timelines actually apply on a case-by-case basis. Listen in while our ERISA attorney unpacks what this means and how employers should handle it. 

Every March, Lipscomb & Pitts Insurance recognizes Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. In the United States, colorectal cancer is the third-leading cause of cancer-related death in men and women. This cancer affects adults of all racial and ethnic groups, however, it is most often diagnosed in people who are over the age of 50. Colorectal cancer is treatable when it is discovered early. Learn more at www.westcancercenter.org

Many American households have at least one pet. In any given year, one in three of these beloved family members will need costly veterinary care, even if it is for routine exam visits and vaccinations. Should a pet become severely ill and need emergency care, costs can sometimes be more than pet owners can bear. However, if they have pet insurance, owners will never have to make a decision about their pets wellbeing based on cost.Though pet insurance is a nontraditional benefit and is generally paid for by the employee, it is becoming increasingly popular in the workplace to help employees care for their pets without going bankrupt. This benefit is particularly valuable, as pet care is increasingly expensive. In fact, offering insurance for man’s best friend is a great marketing and PR initiative for companies that want to add to their image of being a great place to work.Pets typically visit the vet for the following reasons:Accident careIllness careRoutine preventive careLab workX-raysSurgeriesDiagnostic te

Sometimes it can trigger a COBRA event, but other times it may lead to early termination of COBRA. If the steps aren’t ordered correctly, employees may unknowingly make decisions that could cause a loss of family coverage. Listen to our conversation to gain a better understanding of it all.

2020 has been a difficult year, to say the least. Employers have had to face new challenges never seen before and quickly adapt to operating a business during a pandemic, while also navigating new legislation because of it. We also had an election, and the Supreme Court heard the ACA case. 

Betsy Kamler, Director of Client Engagement sits down with Dustin Johnson, Sr. Broker Account Executive with Jellyvision  to discuss how ALEX can serve as a virtual benefit advisor to help drive greater benefit understanding and help employees make smarter decisions. 

Betsy Kamler, Director of Client Engagement sits down with Shaletha Colbert, National Account Executive with Allstate Identity Protection  to discuss why an employer should consider offering identity theft protection and how the COVID pandemic has impacted Identity theft risks.