Employee Benefits Report – October 2021
How to Determine When Protections Apply to ADA and COVID “Long Haulers”
COVID-19 survivors who suffer long-term health challenges might qualify for protections under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
Read on for details.
Make Sure Voluntary Insurance Plans Are Really Voluntary
A voluntary plan that turns out not to be voluntary can also be a complicated maze of paperwork for an employer.
Read on for details.
Is It Possible to Save Too Much for Retirement?
While some employees aren’t saving enough for retirement, some save too much in their plans and pay the price in penalties. Read on for details.
Using Health Insurance Discounts to Fight Vaccination Hesitancy
The lure of lower health insurance premiums is enticing some employees to get vaccinated against COVID-19.
Read on for details.
Employee Benefits Report – September 2021
6 Ways to Help Deal with Labor Shortages
As the economy recovers from the pandemic there are more jobs than workers. Read on for details.
Should Your Business Be Looking into Vision Insurance?
Vision disorders cost U.S. businesses an estimated $8 billion annual in lost productivity. Read on for details.
12 Federal Laws Most Employee Health Plans Must Comply With
The following is a list of federal laws that employers must follow, in addition to the Affordable Care Act, in most cases regardless of their size. Read on for details.
Paid Leave Expands During Pandemic, But Employees Fear Repercussions
During the pandemic many employees expressed the need for paid time off (PTO) — and employers responded, according to the Hartford’s latest Future of Benefits Study 2021.
Read on for details.
Life & Health Insurance Advisor – August 2021
The High Cost of Not Having a Financial Planner
What difference can a financial planner make to improve your retirement plan?
Read on for details.
How to Determine How Much You’ll Need in Retirement
How much do you need to retire comfortably? Read on for details.
Medicaid Work Requirements Slowly Being Phased Out
As the Biden Administration rescinds the Trump requirement that adults who receive Medicaid must work, several states with must-work provisions have seen their waivers withdrawn.cRead on for details.
The Financial Challenges of Being on Disability
COVID-19 symptoms sometimes last months, so it’s not surprising many workers have relied on disability benefits and other programs for financial assistance.
Read on for details.
Employee Benefits Report – July 2021
SECURE Act 401(k) Plan Changes
Impact Employer Responsibilities
Employers who sponsor 401(k) plans must ensure they are in compliance. Read on for details.
How to Stay in Compliance with the
Latest Immigration Laws
Even if you are fairly certain you hire only U.S. citizens, several new laws were added in 2021 that you will need to follow. Read on for details.
New COVID-19 Obligations Added
to Group Health Plans
Even as the country is regaining a sense of normalcy following the pandemic, the federal government has strengthened group health plans obligations for COVID-19 coverage. Read on for details.
Unemployment Tax Rate Increases Expected
The Biden Administration’s decision to extend unemployment benefits in response to the COVID-19 pandemic may significantly increase employers’ unemployment benefit tax costs for years to come.Read on for details.
Employee Benefits Report – June 2021
Additional 2021 Tax Year Benefits Now Available for Employees with Dependents
The $1.9-trillion stimulus package known as the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) includes major changes to the longstanding federal-income-tax child and dependent care credit.
Read on for details.
What if an Employee Refuses to Get Vaccinated?
You can fire employees who refuse to get vaccinated. Read on for details.
Alternatives to the Traditional 401(k)
One of the most popular group retirement plans is a 401(k). There are other options — such as PEPs, 403(b) and ESOPs — that might be a better fit for your company. Read on for details.
Have Proof Will Travel
Business travel came to a grinding halt for many employees after the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns started in the spring of 2020.
Read on for details.
Life & Health Insurance Advisor – May 2021
Should You Use Your Credit Card to Pay Your Medical Insurance Premiums?
There are pros and cons. Read on for details.
Think You’re Too Old for Life Insurance? Think Again!
Here’s a review of the most common policies available to seniors. Read on for details.
Take Control of Prescription Costs
Prescription drug costs have become so expensive many patients are having to decide between filling a prescription or not taking it all. Read on for details.
Why It Pays to Report Insurance Fraud
Fraud costs the insurance industry more than $40 billion annually, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). To cover these losses, insurance companies pass costs along to consumers.
Read on for details.
Employee Benefits Report – April 2021
Federal Government Allows 401(k) Distributions for Birth or Adoption
Your employees can use their 401(k) savings to help with the costs of a qualified birth or adoption. Read on for details.
Individual vs. Group Long-Term Care Coverage for Employees
Considering whether to offer long-term care insurance to employees? How does group long-term compare to individual long-term insurance? Read on for details.
HealthCare Options for Unemployed Workers
How President Biden’s executive orders could affect health care coverage and the way we address the pandemic. Read on for details.
COVID-19: Do You Have Liability?
Lawmakers are looking into legislation to shield employers against unreasonable liability due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Read on for details.
Employee Benefits Report – March 2021
New Federal Guidance for Requiring COVID Vaccinations
With some exceptions, you may legally require your employees to get a COVID-19 vaccination as long as the disease is a threat to the workplace.
Read on for details.
How to Know When Health Insurance Will Cover an Oral Procedure
How to know when an oral procedure is actually a medical procedure and not dental.
Read on for details.
More States Are Embracing Employer-Sponsored IRAs
Americans younger than 59½ will have a second chance to take money from their retirement accounts without paying a tax penalty — if they meet a new condition.
Read on for details.
401(k) Withdrawal Penalties Suspended Again
In March 2020, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act allowed people affected by the coronavirus to withdraw or borrow up to $100,000 from their 401(k), Individual Retirement Arrangement (IRA) or similar account without a 10 percent penalty until the end of 2020.
Read on for details.
Life & Health Insurance Advisor – February 2021
Congress Takes the Surprise Out of Surprise Billings
Congress is putting an end to surprise billing by hospitals. Read on for details.
Pros and Cons of Having Two Health Insurance Policies
If having one health insurance policy is good, is having two even better? Read on for details.
The Increased Importance of Life Insurance During the Pandemic
The popularity of life insurance has grown during the pandemic. Here’s why it’s a wise purchase. Read on for details.
Social Security Adjustments for 2021
The Social Security Administration (SSA) made two decisions regarding earning limits and cost of living increases that positively affect monthly benefits.Read on for details.
Employee Benefits Report – January 2021
Are Employer-Mandated COVID-19 Vaccinations Legal?
When a COVID-19 vaccination is made available to the public, should employers require employees to get the vaccination? Read on for details.
Health Care Benefit Trends for 2021
Health care in 2020 has been impacted by the pandemic and that trend is expected to continue next year. Read on for details.
Could Employer Retirement Accounts Change in a Biden Administration?
There’s talk that tax-deferred retirement plans could be replaced by a system based on tax credits. Read on for details.
What You Need to Know About Disciplining Employees for Not Social Distancing
Social distancing and mask wearing are viewed as some of the best ways to protect yourself and others from COVID-19. Read on for details.
Employee Benefits Report – December 2020
Taking the High Cost of Relocation Out of the Equation
Even though Covid has made working remotely much more popular, there are still jobs that require people to work on premises. Relocation expenses for people hired in these positions can be costly. Read on for details.
What it Takes to Add Inclusion to Your Diversity Efforts
Employers have been practicing diversity in hiring for many years but are now finding that inclusion is also important. Do you know the difference?
Read on for details.
2021 Health Care Costs Could Reach Double Digits
Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) reports that since 2012 the cost of family coverage has increased 3 to 5 percent annually. The COVID-19 pandemic is changing that trend.
Read on for details.
Family Friendly Benefits Now Include Fertility Treatments
A new trend in employer-sponsored benefits is fertility benefits. Not only do these family friendly benefits meet employees’ needs, they save companies and individuals money.
Read on for details.
Life & Health Insurance Advisor – November 2020
Your Life Insurance Options During the COVID-19 Pandemic
With the news media reporting daily on the number of COVID-19 cases and deaths, it’s not surprising that many people are concerned about whether their families will be taken care of if they contract the disease and die.
Read on for details.
Health Benefit Options for Those Who Are Disabled
Are you disabled and wondering if you qualify for health insurance at a reasonable rate? Read on for details.
Tips for Saving for Retirement — Even When Budgets are Tight
Even before the pandemic the majority of Americans didn’t have a retirement account. For many, saving for retirement is now harder than ever.
Read on for details.
Depression — No Excuse Not to See a Doctor
Many more people are depressed now than at the beginning of 2020 and experts blame the COVID-19 pandemic. Unfortunately, too many people affected by depression and other medical issues are not seeing a doctor. Read on for details.