SEARCH

Showing 140 results found

IRS Updates PCORI Fee for Plan Years Ending After October 1, 2021

… methods available to self-funded plan sponsors to determine the average covered lives used for reporting and paying the PCORI fee: the actual count method; the snapshot method; or the Form 5500 method. There are special rules that apply for employers offering multiple self-funded plans or a health reimbursement arrangement (HRA) integrated with a fully insured plan: Multiple Self-Funded Plans – If one plan sponsor maintains more than one self-funded health plan with the same plan year, the arrangements can be treated as a single plan for purposes of the fee. HRAs – An employer that sponsors an HRA …

https://www.epicbrokers.com/insights/irs-updates-pcori-fee-plan-years-ending-after-october-2021/

IRS Announces 2022 Health FSA & Qualified Transportation Limits

… per month for parking and $280 per month for transit, both limits up from $270 per month in 2021. Background In Revenue Procedure 2021-45, the IRS sets forth a variety of 2022 adjusted tax limits. Among other things, the notice indicates that employee contribution limits toward health flexible spending arrangements also known as flexible spending accounts, or FSAs, and qualified transportation fringe benefits will increase slightly for 2022. The limit on annual employee contributions toward health FSAs for 2022 is $2,850, up from $2,750 in 2021 with the ability to carry over up to $570, up from …

https://www.epicbrokers.com/insights/irs-2022-health-fsa-qualified-transportation-limits/

No Surprises Act Part II Interim Final Rule: The Independent Dispute Resolution Process

… created Surprise Billing webpages that provide information on the NSA. HHS created the IDR Entity Certification Application Web Form Quick Reference Guide that explains the process for an arbitration organization to become a certified IDR entity. To be certified, an IDR entity must possess (directly or through contracts or other arrangements) and demonstrate sufficient expertise to conduct dispute resolution. Once certified the entity can act as a third-party responsible for settling NSA payment disputes between payers and providers. The NSA requires the Departments to publish certain information regarding the surprise billing IDR process on a public website every calendar …

https://www.epicbrokers.com/insights/no-surprises-act-part-ii-independent-dispute-resolution/

COVID-19 Vaccine Incentives Employer Guide

… e.g., for COVID-19-related treatment) for employees or their family members who are not vaccinated. Some of the most common incentives include additional vacation or paid time off (PTO), gift cards or cash bonuses, medical plan premium or deductible differentials, and health flexible spending account (FSA), health reimbursement arrangement (HRA) or health savings account (HSA) contributions. If the incentive is PTO, gift cards or cash, it should be treated as taxable to the employee. If the incentive is tied to the employer’s group medical plan, health FSA, HRA or HSA it can be provided on a tax …

https://www.epicbrokers.com/insights/covid-19-vaccine-incentives-employer-guide/

Reminders About Upcoming Changes to Healthcare Spending Related to the COVID-19 Pandemic

… The IRS’s temporary deductible waiver rule covers only the testing and treatment of COVID-19 under an HDHP through the end of the declared COVID-19 public health emergency. The CARES Act rule suspending the deductible requirement for all telehealth services does not extend into 2022. The CARES Act and IRS notice expanded the lists of qualified medical expenses that can be reimbursed from tax-advantaged medical accounts. Tax-advantaged medical accounts include health flexible spending arrangements (FSAs), health savings accounts (HSAs), health reimbursement arrangements (HRAs) and Archer medical savings accounts (Archer MSAs). These accounts allow individuals to …

https://www.epicbrokers.com/insights/reminders-upcoming-changes-healthcare-spending-covid-19-pandemic/

Why Now Is the Time to Leverage Your Benefits Strategy to Recruit & Retain Talent

… compliance and to have a positive impact on employees. Consider using “golden handcuffs” – plans that reward employees while tying them to the company long-term can be very helpful with retention and aligning employees’ goals with yours. Reward key employees for their efforts in building company profitability through deferred compensation arrangements that lower their taxable income. Consider arrangements that have a vesting schedule or are lost if your employee goes to a competitor. Deferred compensation plans can be designed to have no long-term cost to the organization. Cash may be king, but tax-free (or tax-advantaged) usually wins …

https://www.epicbrokers.com/insights/leverage-benefits-strategy-recruit-retain-talent/

Health Plan Cost Transparency Update

… Negotiated rates and historical prices for prescription drugs furnished by in-network providers. The files must be updated monthly and made publicly available on an insurer’s or plan’s website free of charge. As stated earlier, employers, even self-funded employers, generally do not have access to provider reimbursement arrangements. Fully insured employers will be able to rely on the carrier to produce and make public these files. However, self-funded employers should check with their TPA to ensure that they will be capable of producing the required data on behalf of the employer-sponsored health plan. Advanced Cost …

https://www.epicbrokers.com/insights/health-plan-cost-transparency-update/

Transparency Requirements & Surprise Billing – Agency FAQs Offer Several Delays

… provided. However, there are a few requirements that will go into effect in 2022 as originally indicated. Group Health Plan Application & Responsibility The transparency in coverage rules apply to most group health plans, but not grandfathered health plans, excepted benefits (including limited scope dental or vision benefits), or health reimbursement arrangements (HRAs). The CAA requirements apply similarly, but there is no exception for grandfathered health plans. For fully insured plans, the requirements will be handled by the carrier. For self-funded plans, the requirements will generally be handled by third party administrators (TPAs), since employers will not have the information …

https://www.epicbrokers.com/insights/transparency-surprise-billing-agency-faqs-delays/