Skip to main content

SEARCH

Showing 638 results found

Compliance Matters Newsletter | August 2023

Let our team help you navigate the ever-changing benefits compliance landscape each month. Check out this month’s latest alerts, additional updates, and resources – hot off the press: Employee Benefits Compliance Alerts Washington State Long-Term Care Is Now in Effect Originally established in 2021, the Washington Cares Fund provides long-term care for Washington workers. Payroll deductions of .58% of wages began July 1, 2023. Most employees can no longer apply for a private-plan exemption, although some exceptions are available. Workers who contribute the required length of time may apply for benefits starting in July 2026. Learn …

https://www.epicbrokers.com/insights/compliance-matters-newsletter-august-2023/

EPIC Welcomes Benet Heames

… Ontario/Southwest Employee Benefits Team EPIC is excited to announce that Benet Heames has joined the firm as a Principal for the Ontario/Southwest territory’s Employee Benefits Practice. Heames will work closely with his clients to develop strategies to improve the employee healthcare journey and drive business results through employee retention and recruitment. Heames joins EPIC with more than 15 years of experience serving as a Client Sales Executive, Regional Sales Director and Employee Benefits Specialist. “We are excited to welcome Benet Heames to our rapidly expanding Southern California Benefits Team,” said Matt Clemo, EPIC’s Southern California Employee …

https://www.epicbrokers.com/insights/epic-welcomes-benet-heames/

Long-Term Care Needs Affect All of Us

Viewpoints from Craig Hasday More than half of Americans turning 65 will need some form of long-term care (LTC) assistance as they age, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Long-term care insurance helps cover the costs associated with aging, such as nursing home care, assisted living and in-home care. The need to prepare for this life stage affects all of us, either directly as care seekers or indirectly as possible caregivers or planners. LTC services can be expensive – without insurance, the costs can quickly deplete retirement savings for the average American …

https://www.epicbrokers.com/insights/long-term-care-affects-all/

EPIC Grows Northwest Team with Mastroni Addition

Pacific Northwest Expands with Mastroni Addition EPIC is excited to announce that Mike Mastroni has joined the firm as Executive Managing Principal Pacific Northwest. In his new role, Mastroni will continue to expand the company’s presence in the Northwest, including growing our employee benefits and property and casualty practices and identifying acquisitions for the region. Mastroni will report to West Region President KJ Wagner and will work alongside the West leadership team. Mastroni joins EPIC with more than 22 years of experience in commercial and executive risk, and serving in such roles as Producer, Profit Center Leader, Branch Manager …

https://www.epicbrokers.com/insights/epic-welcomes-mike-mastroni/

Compliance Matters Newsletter | July 2023

Let our team help you navigate the ever-changing benefits compliance landscape each month. Check out this month’s latest alerts, additional updates, and resources – hot off the press: Employee Benefits Compliance Alerts COVID-19 Relief for HDHPs Is Ending In March 2020, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) provided relief for COVID-19 testing and treatment. In March 2023, the Departments released updated guidance extending high deductible health plan (HDHP) relief until further notice. In June 2023, the IRS released Notice 2023-37 ending HDHP relief for COVID-19 testing and treatment on or before December 31, 2024. PCORI Fee …

https://www.epicbrokers.com/insights/compliance-matters-newsletter-july-2023/

Are Your Employees Asking About Weight-Loss Drug Coverage? They Will Be…

Viewpoints from Craig Hasday The press is full of headlines, fueled by celebrity endorsements, about the new miracle glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) weight loss drugs: Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro – and guess what? They work, with reports of as much as 15% of body fat loss achieved over a year or less. As we all know and have been preaching in our wellbeing initiatives, obesity poses significant health risks and financial burdens for individuals and employers alike. The average cost of GLP-1 weight loss medications, such as Ozempic, is approximately $14,000 per year. We also know that …

https://www.epicbrokers.com/insights/weight-loss-drug-coverage-viewpoints/

Employer Communications May Prevent Millions in Employee Forfeiture from SFCO Funds

San Francisco’s City Option Holds Millions in Unused Funds The San Francisco City Option (SFCO) was established in 2008 to provide employers with a way to comply with San Francisco’s Health Care Security Ordinance (HCSO). The HCSO requires employers with 20 or more employees, and nonprofit employers with 50 or more employees, to pay a per-hour healthcare expenditure for each covered employee. Employer contributions to the City Option provided covered employees a way to pay for certain qualifying medical expenses, including insurance premiums. Once the account was opened and after the initial payment was made, employers were …

https://www.epicbrokers.com/insights/employee-forfeiture-sfco-funds/

Healthcare Costs Are Rising – How Will You Prepare?

Viewpoints from Craig Hasday COVID-19 surely did one thing – it caused dramatic suppression of medical claim costs and for at least two years, medical “trend” disappeared. In 2023, we got a taste of trend bounceback. Inflation, new technologies, and new medications created a triple whammy, which may even have been triggered by the deferral of care during the pandemic. My advice is to strap in – a firestorm is coming. No doubt there has been growing concern about the emergence of significant, potential large claim liability driving up healthcare costs for all sizes of employers. According to the Centers for …

https://www.epicbrokers.com/insights/rising-healthcare-costs-prep/