HR Policies and Procedures

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 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 have seen many news stories of how the COVID-19 virus has impacted many employers, causing some to turn to significant reductions in their workforce via furloughs and layoffs.   COBRA law and regulations are quite clear.

But there is an alternative for some employers.

Posted on March 19, 2020 By Gary B. Kushner, SPHR, CBP, President
Categories: 
Benefits, 
Blog, 
COBRA, 
HR Compliance, 
HR Outsourcing, 
HR Policies and Procedures

Much later than usual, the IRS released the 2020 retirement plan contribution limits. Earlier this year, they also released the High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) and Health Savings Account (HSA) limits. We now also have the cafeteria plan, adoption credit, and transit benefit limits as well.

Posted on November 6, 2019 By Gary B. Kushner, SPHR, CBP, President
Categories: 
401(k), 
Benefits, 
Blog, 
Cash Balance, 
Combo Plans, 
Compensation, 
Defined Contribution Plan, 
ERISA-ACA Compliance, 
Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA), 
FSA / HSA / HRA, 
Health and Welfare Team, 
Health Savings Accounts (HSA), 
HR Compliance, 
HR Outsourcing, 
HR Policies and Procedures, 
Money Purchase, 
Plan Document Services (BDA), 
Plan Document Services (RPS), 
Profit Sharing, 
Qualified Small Employer HRA (QSEHRA), 
Retirement Plans, 
Team Rewards, 
Total Rewards

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.

Posted on May 29, 2019 By Gary B. Kushner, SPHR, CBP, President
Categories: 
Benefits, 
Blog, 
Compensation, 
FSA / HSA / HRA, 
Health Savings Accounts (HSA), 
HR Compliance, 
HR Outsourcing, 
HR Policies and Procedures, 
Team Rewards

Kushner President and CEO Gary Kushner was invited to present a 5-minute (and exactly 5 minutes) speech at this year's DisruptHR conference. His topic was on "Total Rewards: Why are We Doing What We're Doing?" Here's the video of that talk.

Posted on May 23, 2019 By Kushner & Company
Categories: 
Benefits, 
Blog, 
COBRA, 
Compensation, 
ERISA-ACA Compliance, 
Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA), 
FSA / HSA / HRA, 
Goal Setting and Alignment, 
Health and Welfare Team, 
Health Reimbursement Arrangements (HRA), 
Health Savings Accounts (HSA), 
HR Compliance, 
HR Outsourcing, 
HR Policies and Procedures, 
Performance Management, 
Team Rewards, 
Total Rewards

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) recently published an Information Letter that confirms the general preemption under ERISA of state civil laws that require employers to obtain written consent before withholding amounts from employees’ wages for contribution to a benefit plan subject to ERISA.

Posted on February 18, 2019 By Gary B. Kushner, SPHR, CBP, President
Categories: 
401(k), 
Benefits, 
Blog, 
COBRA, 
Compensation, 
Defined Contribution Plan, 
ERISA-ACA Compliance, 
Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA), 
FSA / HSA / HRA, 
Health and Welfare Team, 
Health Savings Accounts (HSA), 
HR Compliance, 
HR Outsourcing, 
HR Policies and Procedures, 
Retirement Plans, 
Team Rewards

Employers who sponsor group health plans that cover any prescription drugs generally must disclose whether the plan provides creditable or non-creditable prescription drug coverage to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) within 60 days of the start of a new plan year.

Posted on February 18, 2019 By Gary B. Kushner, SPHR, CBP, President
Categories: 
Benefit Card, 
Benefits, 
Blog, 
COBRA, 
ERISA-ACA Compliance, 
Excepted Benefit HRA (EBHRA), 
FSA / HSA / HRA, 
Health and Welfare Team, 
Health Reimbursement Arrangements (HRA), 
HR Compliance, 
HR Outsourcing, 
HR Policies and Procedures, 
Plan Document Services (BDA), 
Qualified Small Employer HRA (QSEHRA), 
Team Rewards

In a recent article published by SHRM, our President and CEO Gary Kushner was cited as the main resource on dealing with active employees and their dependents upon their reaching Medicare-eligibility. Kushner mentioned many issues related to employer-based health and prescription drug benefits.

Posted on February 15, 2019 By Kushner & Company
Categories: 
Benefits, 
Blog, 
COBRA, 
ERISA-ACA Compliance, 
FSA / HSA / HRA, 
Health and Welfare Team, 
Health Reimbursement Arrangements (HRA), 
Health Savings Accounts (HSA), 
HR Compliance, 
HR Outsourcing, 
HR Policies and Procedures, 
Individual Coverage HRA (ICHRA), 
Qualified Small Employer HRA (QSEHRA), 
Team Rewards

On December 14, 2018, a US District Judge in Texas issued a ruling that the entire ACA was unconstitutional given that the individual mandate contained in it no longer had a tax penalty, the basis of the 2012 US Supreme Court ruling upholding the ACA's constitutionality. 

Posted on December 17, 2018 By Gary B. Kushner, SPHR, CBP, President
Categories: 
Benefits, 
Blog, 
COBRA, 
ERISA-ACA Compliance, 
Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA), 
FSA / HSA / HRA, 
Health and Welfare Team, 
Health Reimbursement Arrangements (HRA), 
Health Savings Accounts (HSA), 
HR Compliance, 
HR Outsourcing, 
HR Policies and Procedures, 
Individual Coverage HRA (ICHRA), 
IRS Form 5500 Services (BDA), 
Qualified Small Employer HRA (QSEHRA), 
Team Rewards

Gary Kushner, a frequent contributor to national and regional media, was quoted in the Washington Post responding to a question about open enrollment timelines.

Posted on November 15, 2018 By Gary B. Kushner, SPHR, CBP, President
Categories: 
Benefits, 
Blog, 
ERISA-ACA Compliance, 
Health and Welfare Team, 
HR Compliance, 
HR Outsourcing, 
HR Policies and Procedures, 
Team Rewards

Kushner & Company President and CEO Gary Kushner was recently highlighted in SHRM's video series HR Storytellers.

Posted on October 31, 2017 By Kushner & Company
Categories: 
Benefits, 
Blog, 
HR Compliance, 
HR Outsourcing, 
HR Policies and Procedures, 
Talent Aquisition Strategies, 
Talent Management, 
Team Development, 
Team Management, 
Team Performance, 
Team Rewards