Benefits

As we explained in 2020, funding for the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) was supposed to end with filings and fees for plan years that began before October 1, 2019. In the words of the great philosopher Emily Litella, “Never mind.”

Working with an employee benefits consultancy ensures that you stay informed, minimize costs, and receive sound advice about the wellbeing of your employees. With the ability to walk you through your decision-making process, consultants can ensure that you’re looking at appropriate plans.

The COVID-19 Outbreak Period has had numerous impacts upon benefit plans, extending timelines with which plans had to perform certain activities.

President Biden declared the end of the National Emergency effective May 11, 2023. Employers must plan now for the end of the Outbreak Period.

Yes Virginia, there really is a Santa Claus(e).

The telehealth exception to the rule that in order to make an HSA contribution, a participant must be enrolled in a High Deductible Health Plan requiring non-preventive benefits to meet the plan's deductible is extended.

It must be the holiday season. The IRS recently finalized new regulations providing that ALEs must furnish the Forms 1095-C to employees no later than 30 days after January 31st of each year. In the past, forms were due by January 31st unless an employer asked for an extension. It's now automatic.

The IRS has now released all of the 2023 benefit limits on October 21, 2022. Earlier this year, they also released the High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) and Health Savings Account (HSA) limits.

Employers that offer prescription drug benefits are required to provide an annual notice to all Medicare-eligible plan participants and qualified beneficiaries before October 15th of each year, the start of the Medicare open enrollment period. Most send it to all participants.

The PCORI annual filing and fees were reinstated through 2029. That means that all employers (or their insurers in fully insured group health plans) must file the annual IRS Form 720 by July 31st of each year, regardless of their plan year.

Starting in 2007, the Tax Relief and Health Care Act of 2006 (TRHCA) requires that the IRS release the upcoming year’s new HSA limits prior to June 1st. Thus, we now have the 2023 HSA limits.

The IRS has now released all of the 2022 benefit limits. Earlier this year, they also released the High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) and Health Savings Account (HSA) limits.

Employers that offer prescription drug benefits are required to provide an annual notice to all Medicare-eligible plan participants and qualified beneficiaries before October 15th of each year, the start of the Medicare open enrollment period. Most send it to all participants.