17 compliance guides cover common employee benefits issues and strategies for employers.  MORE >>

"Employers may provide the forms electronically (via email) if the individual consents. Previously, the consent had to be made in a manner that 'reasonably demonstrates that the recipient can access the statement in the electronic format in which it will be furnished.' Under the Employer Reporting Improvement Act, the 'demonstration' is no longer necessary."  MORE >>

"The Act extends the alternative method for furnishing forms to all Forms 1095-C. While the legislation as passed requires these forms to be available by January 31, the due date for furnishing all ACA forms was permanently extended to March 2. Therefore, employers that want to take advantage of this alternative but are not ready by January 31 will likely want to consider furnishing the forms through the mail for the initial year depending on how quickly the IRS releases the instructions on how to satisfy the alternative method ... [F]lexibility to report the date of birth in place of missing TINs already exists in the regulations and is now in the Code. The change only applies to IRC Section 6055, which is the section dealing with reporting enrollment -- i.e., Forms 1095-B, and Part III of Form 1095-C."  MORE >>

"Aetna is taking legal action against Pfizer, Novartis, Teva Pharmaceuticals and others, saying the list of drugmakers conspired to overcharge the insurer, consumers and the federal government for generic drugs. The complaint ... claims the drugmakers communicated secretly at trade conferences or through phone calls, beginning in 2012, to determine the market share, prices and bids of certain drugs." [Aetna Inc. v. Actavis Holdco US, Inc., et al., No. HHD-CV25-6196927-S (Sup. Ct. Hartford complaint filed Dec. 30, 2024)]  MORE >>

"[1] Have multiple group health insurance options ... [2] Offer Health Savings Accounts ... [3] Create Health Reimbursement Accounts ... [4] Self-insure ... [5] Educate ... [6] Saving taxes."  MORE >>

"[K]ey trends driving drugflation: [1] The uneven employer-PBM negotiating field ... [2] The rapidly increasing number of specialty medicines ... [3] The explosive rise in GLP-1 use (and uses) ... [S]trategies for benefits advisors looking to help their clients optimize their pharmacy benefits: [1] Check the fine print ... [2] Focus on the right details ... [3] Ensure your pharmacy benefits partner is working for you."  MORE >>

"[H]ealth plans generally provide coverage when the prosthetic is determined to be medically necessary ... In practice, though, prosthetic coverage by private health plans varies tremendously, said Ashlie White ... [of] the Amputee Coalition. Even though coverage for basic prostheses may be included in a plan, 'often insurance companies will put caps on the devices and restrictions on the types of devices approved,' White said."  MORE >>

"[I]nternational price referencing for certain prescription drugs may be on the table during the second Trump administration. Broadly, this is a system of price controls in which an average or minimum price across a group of countries with similar gross domestic output per capita can serve as an anchor towards which differing prices may converge over time."  MORE >>

"Plan fiduciaries and plan sponsor employees with access to personal data or investment accounts need training to make sure that they don't respond to phishing attempts or inadvertently install malware on their computers.... Insist on multi-factor authentication.... Remote workers pose additional risks.... Service provider audits and tests.... Contract termination.... Indemnification rights ... Don't forget welfare plans."  MORE >>

"Employers may include HSAs and student loan payments among their employees' allocation choices for employer contributions to benefit plans. Some employers provide flexibility with regard to the allocation of their employer contributions among benefit plans as a way to enhance recruiting and retention. New contribution limits will kick in for HSAs and health reimbursement arrangements (HRAs) for 2025."  MORE >>