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Health & Welfare Plans Newsletter February 10, 2021 |
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Newly Posted |
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Discussions |
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This Newsletter:
BenefitsLink Retirement Plans Newsletter:
Message Boards Digest:
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[Guidance Overview]
"Employers with self-funded plans should consider engaging their existing mental health parity analysis vendor to assist in preparing this report.... While the February 10 deadline is not a filing deadline, it is not known when the federal agencies will begin requesting these reports." HUB International |
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[Guidance Overview]
"Since the COVID-19 pandemic is ongoing, it is likely that a number of qualified beneficiaries may become entitled to Medicare before they have to make a COBRA election. Under the [joint agency Notice issued May 4, 2020] ... they will be able to 'test' their Medicare coverage limits prior to making a decision about COBRA election, which could create an undesirable selection issue for group health plans[.]" Hall Benefits Law |
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[Guidance Overview]
"The good news for employers is that the new rules propose an exception or 'safe harbor' to the de minimis standard for wellness programs that are part of, or qualify as, group health plans. Wellness plans that are part of group health plan may offer greater than minimal incentives." Graydon |
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[Guidance Overview]
"Colorado and New York are the latest states to enact laws requiring employers to provide accrued paid leave." Mercer |
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[Guidance Overview]
"For large employers (those with 100 or more employees) the NYSDOL guidance would require not just 14 days of paid COVID-19 leave as the law's text provides, but potentially 28 or even 42 days of paid COVID-19 leave where an employee requalifies for an order of mandatory isolation because of a positive test result." Mintz |
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"This post summarizes the coverage-related proposals in the February 8 drafts. These bills may be revised, and drafts from other committees ... should be expected soon. Unsurprisingly, the drafts generally track President Biden's American Rescue Plan proposal and parts of Patient Protection and Affordable Care Enhancement Act passed by the House in July 2020." Katie Keith, in Health Affairs Blog |
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"If signed into law, the bill would ensure that any household that has income 400% above the federal poverty level and higher only pays 8.5% of their income on healthcare.... The bill also would provide premium assistance to cover 85% for COBRA continuous coverage for any eligible individuals and families through Sept. 30, 2021." FierceHealthcare |
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"[CMS] has released new guidance and data related to the [ACA].... [S]everal pending ACA-related lawsuits have been resolved or delayed. Litigation over a COVID-19 special enrollment period was dismissed, and pending appeals over the association health plan rule, the provider conscience rule, and the double billing rule have been put on hold[.]" Katie Keith, in Health Affairs Blog |
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"HSAs are a fantastic savings tool. Interest, dividends, and capital gains earned on HSA dollars are nontaxable. So any money in your HSA that you don't spend, can continue to grow and gain interest." Connect Your Care |
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[Opinion]
"The largest category of wasteful spending in the US (about 30%) is administrative costs.... The authority derived from the ACA should be used to implement the third wave of administrative simplification regulations, which requires autoadjudication of claims and prior authorizations and, as a by-product, creates long-awaited payment system and electronic health record interoperability." Robert P. Kocher, MD, via JAMA Network |
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[Opinion]
"The Affordable Coverage Coalition encompasses groups representing the nation's doctors, hospitals, employers and health insurance providers that collectively serve hundreds of millions of American patients, consumers and employers. The joint commitment by such a broad array of interests is a significant milestone on the path toward universal coverage, which has remained an elusive goal within the U.S. healthcare system." Blue Cross Blue Shield Association |
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Benefits in General |
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"Transparency is coming to health care much as it did with the retirement industry. The CAA removes gag clauses on price and quality information and requires 408(b)(2)-style broker compensation disclosure." 401(k) Specialist |
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"More than half (56%) of 401(k) participants reduced their retirement plan contributions in the first year that they made health savings account (HSA) contributions ... The median dollar reduction in participant 401(k) contributions in the first year of HSA contributions was $34. However, deferral rates decreased by $5,127 at the 10th percentile." PLANSPONSOR; free registration may be required |
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Press Releases |
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Greater Orlando Society for Human Resource Management (GOSHRM) Announces 2021 Leadership Team
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Most Popular Items in the Previous Issue |
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No Safe Haven for Employers Managing Health Care Costs
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The Health Costs of Cost-Sharing (PDF)
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BenefitsLink.com, Inc.
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Lois Baker, J.D., President
David Rhett Baker, J.D., Editor and Publisher
Holly Horton, Business Manager
BenefitsLink Health & Welfare Plans Newsletter, ISSN no. 1536-9595. Copyright 2021 BenefitsLink.com, Inc. All materials contained in this newsletter are protected by United States copyright law and may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, displayed, published or broadcast without the prior written permission of BenefitsLink.com, Inc., or in the case of third party materials, the owner of those materials. You may not alter or remove any trademark, copyright or other notices from copies of the content.
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