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Employers Mandating the COVID-19 Vaccine

One of the tangential effects of being in the healthcare brokerage business is that on the occasion there’s a global pandemic, employers turn to you for answers. And I’ll let you in on a dirty little secret – we are learning on the fly as well! Initially, there were many questions about how to effectively disinfect the work environment, what reasonable return-to-work standards are, how to gain access to personal protective equipment (PPE), and what specific services and communications target work-from-home employees. But now all the rage is vaccinations – questions such as “can we access …

https://www.epicbrokers.com/insights/employers-mandating-the-covid-19-vaccine/

Departments Issue Final Regulations to Help Plans Maintain Grandfathered Status

Quick Facts Final regulations published on December 15, 2020 amend the requirements for preserving grandfathered plan status. The regulations provide that a grandfathered high-deductible health plan (HDHP) may increase fixed-amount cost-sharing requirements to the extent necessary to remain a qualifying HDHP. The regulations also permit grandfathered plans to use an alternative method of measuring increases in fixed-amount cost sharing without jeopardizing grandfathered plan status. The changes may be applied on or after June 15, 2021. Summary The U.S. Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and the Treasury (collectively, the Departments) on December 15, 2020 …

https://www.epicbrokers.com/insights/departments-issue-final-regulations-for-grandfathered-status/

Medicare Part D Disclosure to CMS

Quick Facts Employers with group health plans that provide prescription drug coverage to individuals who are eligible for Medicare Part D must disclose to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) certain information about the coverage. The disclosure must be submitted to CMS on an annual basis and at certain other designated times. The disclosure to CMS is due within 60 days after the start of each plan year (March 1, 2021, for calendar year plans). The CMS disclosure is different than the notices of creditable or non-creditable coverage that plan sponsors must issue to Medicare-eligible individuals …

https://www.epicbrokers.com/insights/medicare-part-d-disclosure-to-cms/

Special Compliance Alert: Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 Expands Cafeteria Plan Flexibility

… another massive stimulus package to help American families cope with the crippling economic effects of the virus. The COVID-Related Tax Relief Act of 2020 (COVIDTRA) and the Taxpayer Certainty and Disaster Tax Relief Act of 2020 (TCDTR), which are included in the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2021 (CAA), include continued funding under the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act, further enhanced unemployment benefits, more loans to small businesses and another round of stimulus checks to be issued to most individuals earning under $87,000. In addition, the bill contains provisions that will impact employers who sponsor cafeteria plans

https://www.epicbrokers.com/insights/special-compliance-alert-consolidated-appropriations-act-2021/

Covering Coronavirus: Risk Considerations Volume 1, Issue 29

EPIC Risk Advisory Bulletin Volume 1, Issue 29 In this issue, we take a focused look at: Supply Chain and Business Risks How Will Supply Chains Respond to Vaccine Distribution? Equipment Maintenance Program Creates Savings for Hospitals Insurance Products and Coverage Information Business Interruption Update More D&O Liability Suits Stem From Coronavirus Claims Presumptive Compensability Update News of Note Human Resources and Employee Benefits Webinar: Cal-OSHA Coronavirus Preparation Program Webinar: How to Prepare for AB 685 IRS Issues Final Rule on Commuter Benefits CDC Guidelines for Parents & Caregivers Cal/OSHA Emergency Regulation Now in Effect Holiday Safety Guidelines …

https://www.epicbrokers.com/insights/covering-coronavirus-risk-considerations-volume-1-issue-29/

Know, Feel, Do: Helping Employees Make the Decision That’s Right for Them

As we approach the end of a tumultuous year, our clients and their employees are facing additional changes and critical decisions that may (at least temporarily) add disruption and stress. Questions around the COVID-19 vaccine and how the company will “return to work” once the pandemic has subsided are just two issues keeping HR folks awake these days. Viewpoints from Bob Simpson Businesses often try to inundate their employees with as much information as possible, assuming this will help everyone reach the same conclusion. The reality, particularly in today’s environment, is that employees can easily be overwhelmed – and …

https://www.epicbrokers.com/insights/know-feel-do-helping-employees-make-decisions/

Projecting 2021 Medical Costs Now That the Vaccine Is Here

… certainly have seen much more conservative pricing in stop-loss renewals, which indicates that entities bearing the risk of the cost of large claims are being conservative in their estimate of the catastrophic claim levels which will emerge in 2021. Another source of uncertainty is the impact on claims of the continuing cost of COVID-19 care. Since the vaccine will largely be funded by the U.S. government, at least initially, costs to health plans will be for vaccine administration, which we estimate to be around $8.33 per employee per month. It’s possible that the cost for

https://www.epicbrokers.com/insights/projecting-2021-medical-costs-now-that-the-vaccine-is-here/

“Mental Health” Focus – Trend or Here to Stay?

… asked him how he was doing, he said, “my cats are literally my lifeline.” While his coping mechanism seems to be working for him, an increasing number of people are experiencing difficult times – and they’re not sure where to turn. Now that employers are seeing the impact on productivity, employee satisfaction, and employee health from the anxiety and depression brought on by side effects of COVID (social isolation, fear, lack of exercise, exhaustion) we were curious what steps our clients were taking to address them. Our recent Mental Health and Wellbeing Pulse Survey had some fascinating results. What we …

https://www.epicbrokers.com/insights/mental-health-focus-trend-or-here-to-stay/