Benefits Buzz
President Joseph Biden signed an executive order on Thursday which instructs the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to authorize a new special enrollment period in the individual health insurance market. The special enrollment period will be available because of the exceptional circumstances that have been created by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Joseph Biden was sworn in as the 46th President of the United States less than one week ago, and he has already introduced his ideas for a third economic stimulus package.
The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 was signed into law on December 27, 2020. As part of the law, a new stimulus package was included that impacts Health and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts (Health and Dependent Care FSAs).
Individual Coverage Health Reimbursement Arrangements (ICHRAs) first became available in 2020. ICHRAs allow employers to reimburse employees for individual health insurance coverage (or Medicare coverage) that employees obtain on their own. ICHRAs provide employers with an alternative to offering traditional group health insurance coverage to employees.
President Donald Trump signed a new stimulus bill into law on December 27, 2020 which will provide direct payments to eligible individuals and loans to small businesses, among other things. Among those other things are temporary and optional changes that employers can implement to Health and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts (Health FSAs and Dependent Care FSAs).
As we approach the new year, it is important that employers and benefit advisors not forgot some of the reporting obligations that come along with offering group health plans and other employee benefit programs.
Here are four reporting reminders: