Employee Benefits

Posted February 4th, 2020 in Employers, Producers

Annual Medicare Part D reporting is required for all employers who provide health benefits with prescription drug coverage. The reporting is an online filing to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), and it lets CMS know if the prescription drug coverage available on the employer’s health plan is “creditable.”

Posted January 21st, 2020 in Employers

Consumer-Driven Health Plans (CHDPs) have been steadily gaining in popularity for several years now. According to the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) 2018 Annual Benefits Report, 40% of the employers surveyed now offer a CDHP to their employees. SHRM defines a CDHP as a Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA) or a Health Savings Account (HSA) paired with any underlying medical plan.

Posted January 16th, 2020 in Producers

A stand-out strategy for small businesses:  Worksite benefits enable small companies to do more with less

The competition for talent is fierce for small businesses. With the rising cost of health care eating up larger portions of their benefits budgets, small business owners working to attract and retain key talent are looking for ways to do more with less. For these employers, worksite benefits offer a strategic opportunity to not only compete for top talent but keep key employees once they're on board.

Posted January 14th, 2020 in Producers

The fourth quarter is finally over, and you made it through! Now you’re probably planning to sit back, relax, and enjoy a well-earned break. Not so fast!

Open enrollment season can be unbelievably stressful and exhausting. With all the time you spent setting up enrollment meetings, chasing down employee applications and entering new benefit elections, you probably didn’t have a spare moment to think about benefits compliance. Unfortunately, compliance obligations don’t go away just because it’s your busiest time of the year.

Posted January 7th, 2020 in Producers

Benefit needs and strategies are constantly evolving. But, one thing hasn't changed. Employers value the expert guidance they get from their benefits brokers.

A new employee benefit trends report from MetLife examines the changing expectations of employers – and finds that the list goes way beyond cost savings. 

Posted November 27th, 2019 in Employers, Producers
The Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) requires most employers who offer health and welfare benefits to maintain and distribute Summary Plan Descriptions (SPDs) to all plan participants. This SPD must include certain disclosures and information, such as when the employer may amend or terminate the plan(s).
 
Posted November 19th, 2019 in Employers, Producers

As work and life continue to blend and unemployment remains low, the competition for employee talent is intense. Small businesses are seeking solutions to help their companies stand out as they tackle the challenge of attracting, engaging, and retaining employees.

Strategic benefits can play a pivotal role.

Posted October 23rd, 2019 in Producers, Employers

Nobody wants to contemplate becoming disabled and unable to work. But it happens.

  • 1 in 4 of today's 20-year-olds will become disabled at some point before reaching age 67. [1]
Posted September 17th, 2019 in Employers, Producers

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) created a research institute known as the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI). The goal of PCORI is to help patients and those who care for them make better-informed decisions about healthcare choices. PCORI is funded by temporary fees which are charged to health plans. The following information is designed to help employers understand their upcoming payment obligations in 2020.

Posted September 11th, 2019 in Producers

Think you know how your small business clients feel about healthcare benefits? As their trusted advisor, you probably have the best perspective. But, some of the findings from the latest MetLife and U.S. Chamber of Commerce Small Business Index may surprise you.

Benefits Buzz

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