"In 2025, the IRA will significantly increase the richness of the defined standard benefit, raising the minimum standard for being creditable....The actuarial value of the reference plan will increase by 5% to 14% (additive increase of 3% to 8%) from 2024 to 2025. Benefit designs that are not creditable or were borderline creditable for the 2024 plan year are likely to be non-creditable for the 2025 plan year without some benefit enhancement."  MORE >>

"2023 saw three key developments affecting Mental Health Parity: [1] the tri-agencies tasked with enforcing that law issued extensive proposed regulations with respect to duties of plan fiduciaries under the Mental Health Parity and Addition Equity Act of 2008; [2] the [DOL] issued its second report to Congress regarding its enforcement activities; and [3] the courts continued to interpret and apply the law to specific cases."  MORE >>

"San Francisco requires covered employers to make minimum healthcare expenditures on behalf of their San Francisco employees and to comply with certain requirements regarding the use of arrest and conviction records in hiring and other employment decisions. Covered employers must report each year on compliance with both of these requirements. The next report for 2023 is due by May 3."  MORE >>

"Choosing stop-loss insurance isn't as simple as just choosing a policy. The terms of your first stop-loss insurance contract establish a precedent with carriers, so it's important to get them right.... [Q]uestions to keep in mind. [1] How much risk are we willing to take on? ... [2] What are our contract terms, and will we have coverage gaps? ... [3] What is our exit strategy?"  MORE >>

"There is no 'one size fits all' plan when it comes to creating a positive environment in the workplace. However, there are a few scalable items organizations should consider. This includes open communication, looking at wellness holistically and evaluating resources and benefits."  MORE >>

"Financial anxiety among employees has become a major driver of workplace stress and poor performance, which will continue to be the case in 2024. Companies have all the resources they need to address this anxiety, improving employees' well-being and ensuring they're fully engaged at work."  MORE >>

"The out-of-network or RBP without caps savings scheme is akin to a leaky roof repair service that charges based on potential rather than actual damage. They bill you on how much water could have gotten in. In a more just system, such practices would be unthinkable. Yet, in healthcare, they are not only accepted but normalized. While some players in the out-of-network negotiation or RBP sphere do place a per-claim cap on their fees, others operate with virtually no limits, raising questions about ethics and fairness in healthcare billing."  MORE >>

"Between 2000 and 2020, two dominant trends in core benefits emerged: Active healthcare costs more than tripled, well surpassing pay increases, driving up total benefit values over the past 20 years. Retirement programs, including DB pensions and retiree medical plans, were significantly scaled back, replaced by less generous account-based programs."  MORE >>