Benefits Buzz
Posted August 3rd, 2017 in Producers, Employers, Individuals
Effective as of July 1, 2017, the State of Illinois has increased the individual income tax rate to 4.95 percent from 3.75 percent. Also, the corporate rate has increased to 7 percent from 5.25 percent. These increases were included as part of the state’s new budget. Illinois had previously gone 736 days without a budget.
Posted July 28th, 2017 in Producers, Employers, Individuals
Well, after several months of debate, it appears you can keep your Obamacare plan and everything else that comes along with the Affordable Care Act (ACA).
On Tuesday, the Senate voted favorably on a motion to proceed with the debate over a repeal and/or replacement of the ACA. This was a significant procedural step necessary to pass a bill in the Senate.
Posted July 24th, 2017 in Producers, Employers, Individuals
Senate Republicans may vote as early as Tuesday on a bill that would repeal and replace key parts of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), but there are still a couple of unknowns.
Posted July 18th, 2017 in Producers, Employers, Individuals
Senate Republicans introduced the Better Care Reconciliation Act of 2017 (BCRA) last month which would repeal and replace key parts of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). It’s been amended two times since it was released and is now in its third version. The latest changes were released on July 13th and include the following updates:
Group health plans are almost always subject to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, also known as ERISA.
This means employers must follow certain rules, such as:
- Providing participants with important information in writing about plan features and funding.
- Establishing an appeals and grievance process for participants to receive benefits from the plan.
- Providing fiduciary responsibilities for those who manage and control plan assets.
Posted July 3rd, 2017 in Producers, Employers, Individuals
It appears crunch time is nearing for Senate Republicans who want to repeal and replace key parts of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). While there is no official deadline to pass legislation that would alter the ACA, the artificial deadline is the end of July.
