COVID-19

In response to the pandemic, the IRS issued rules in 2020 that COVID-19 testing and treatment benefits could be provided by a High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) without a deductible or with a deductible below the HDHP minimum deductible. With the end of the emergency, those rules are now changed.

Posted on June 29, 2023 By Kushner & Company
Categories: 
Benefits, 
Blog, 
COVID-19, 
ERISA-ACA Compliance, 
Health Savings Accounts (HSA)

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.

Posted on February 1, 2023 By Kushner & Company
Categories: 
Benefits, 
Blog, 
COBRA, 
COVID-19, 
ERISA-ACA Compliance, 
Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA), 
FSA / HSA / HRA, 
Health and Welfare Team, 
Health Reimbursement Arrangements (HRA), 
Health Savings Accounts (HSA), 
HR Compliance, 
Total Rewards

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.

Posted on December 23, 2022 By Kushner & Company
Categories: 
Administration, 
Benefits, 
Blog, 
COBRA, 
COVID-19, 
ERISA-ACA Compliance, 
Health and Welfare Team

In a recent news release, the IRS reminds employers and employees that the cost of COVID-19 home testing is an eligible expense under a health care flexible spending account (FSA), health reimbursement arrangement (HRA), and health savings account (HSA).

Posted on September 13, 2021 By Kushner & Company
Categories: 
Administration, 
Benefit Card, 
Blog, 
COVID-19, 
Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA), 
FSA / HSA / HRA, 
Health Reimbursement Arrangements (HRA), 
Health Savings Accounts (HSA)

On March 11, 2021 President Biden signed the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). It contains many HR and benefit-related items, and in this post we’ll cover the temporary rules that apply only to 2021 for an increase in the limits for pre-tax Dependent Care Reimbursement Accounts (DCRAs).

Posted on March 18, 2021 By Gary B. Kushner, SPHR, CBP, President
Categories: 
Administration, 
Blog, 
COVID-19, 
Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA), 
FSA / HSA / HRA, 
HR Policies and Procedures, 
Work / Life Balance

On March 11, 2021 President Biden signed the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). It contains many HR and benefit-related items, and in this post we'll cover the new temporary rules for this year's version of Assistance Eligible Individuals (AEIs).

Posted on March 17, 2021 By Gary B. Kushner, SPHR, CBP, President
Categories: 
Administration, 
Blog, 
COBRA, 
COVID-19, 
ERISA-ACA Compliance, 
HR Compliance

On the last possible workday on which to provide needed guidance before health plan sponsors had to fend for themselves on when the COBRA and HIPAA Outbreak Period ended, the Employee Benefits Security Administration, part of the US Department of Labor, issued Disaster Relief Notice 2021-01.

Posted on February 26, 2021 By Gary B. Kushner, SPHR, CBP, President
Categories: 
Benefits, 
Blog, 
COBRA, 
COVID-19, 
ERISA-ACA Compliance, 
Health and Welfare Team, 
HR Compliance, 
HR Outsourcing, 
HR Policies and Procedures

We provided information at the end of April, 2020 about the IRS' and DOL's determination that the "pause" button was hit on a number of regular timing and payment due dates relating to COBRA, health plan claims (including health care FSA claims), and HIPAA Special Enrollment Periods. Is it ending?

Posted on February 18, 2021 By Gary B. Kushner, SPHR, CBP, President
Categories: 
Benefits, 
Blog, 
COBRA, 
COVID-19, 
ERISA-ACA Compliance, 
Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA), 
FSA / HSA / HRA, 
Health and Welfare Team, 
Health Reimbursement Arrangements (HRA)

This is a very difficult question, since neither the IRS nor the DOL has addressed it directly.

Posted on October 30, 2020 By Gary B. Kushner, SPHR, CBP, President
Categories: 
Blog, 
COBRA, 
COVID-19

Much has been written about the calculations necessary to compute the amount of payroll costs that must be a major component of PPP loan forgiveness. In fact, at least 60% of the forgivable amount (previously 75%) must come from allowable payroll costs. So what constitutes payroll costs?

Posted on June 8, 2020 By Gary B. Kushner, SPHR, CBP, President
Categories: 
401(k), 
Benefits, 
Blog, 
Compensation, 
COVID-19, 
Defined Contribution Plan

In two new IRS Notices (2020-29 and 2020-33), there are temporary changes to the rules governing Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) through 2020 due to COVID-19, and permanent changes to both FSAs and certain Health Reimbursement Arrangements (HRAs) that will begin this year. 

Posted on May 13, 2020 By Gary B. Kushner, SPHR, CBP, President
Categories: 
Administration, 
Benefits, 
Blog, 
COVID-19, 
ERISA-ACA Compliance, 
Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA), 
FSA / HSA / HRA, 
Health Reimbursement Arrangements (HRA), 
Individual Coverage HRA (ICHRA), 
Total Rewards

The DOL and IRS issued a Notice that announced a "pause" in the timelines that affect many COBRA and HIPAA Special Enrollment Period timelines during the COVID-19 National Emergency pandemic. It also provides for additional timelines relating to all health and welfare plan claim filings and appeals.

Posted on April 30, 2020 By Gary B. Kushner, SPHR, CBP, President
Categories: 
Administration, 
Blog, 
COBRA, 
COVID-19, 
Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA), 
FSA / HSA / HRA, 
Health Reimbursement Arrangements (HRA), 
Health Savings Accounts (HSA)