DOL

STM Plans Not So Short Anymore

Posted February 27th, 2018 in Producers, Employers, Individuals
siblings measuring how tall they are
In October 2017, President Donald Trump issued an executive order instructing the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Department of Labor (DOL) and Department of Treasury (DOT) – collectively known as the “tri-agencies” – to consider proposing rules that would expand short-term, limited duration insurance, also known as short-term medical plans (STM plans). 
 
Tags:
STM, HHS, DOL, President Trump, healthcare reform, ACA, Affordable Care Act
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DOL Proposes New Association Health Plan Rules

Posted January 11th, 2018 in Producer, Employers, Individuals
Man with icons representing association plans
In response to an executive order issued by President Donald Trump in October of last year, the Department of Labor (DOL) has proposed new rules that aim to expand the availability of association health plans (AHPs) in the small group market.
Tags:
healthcare reform, Affordable Care Act, ACA, President Trump, DOL, small group health plans
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New Guidance Impacts Group Health Plans, Preventive Care & HRAs

Posted December 30th, 2016 in Producers, Employers, Individuals
New Guidance Impacts Group Health Plans, Preventive Care & HRAs
Last week, the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and the Treasury (collectively the “Departments”) issued new guidance as the Affordable Care Act (ACA) continues to evolve.
 
 The guidance has been summarized into three different categories shown below:
 
1. Group Health Plans
 
Tags:
Health care reform, ACA, Affordable Care Act, HRAs, individual health plans, small group health plans, DOL
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Medicaid / CHIP Premium Assistance Notice

Posted August 15th, 2016 in Producers, Employers
Medicaid / CHIP Premium Assistance Notice
If you are an employer who offers a group health plan to employees who reside in the following states, then the Department of Labor (DOL) requires you to provide a premium assistance notice to employees who are eligible for the group health plan and who are also eligible (or may become eligible) for Medicaid, including the employees children who are also eligible (or may become eligible) for the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP): 
 
Tags:
United States Department of Labor, DOL, employers, Employee Benefits, Medicaid
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Form 5500 Filing Requirements May Extend to Small Employers

Posted August 3rd, 2016 in Producers, Employers
Form 5500 Filing Requirements May Extend to Small Employers
According to a DOL website, “The Form 5500 Series is an important compliance, research, and disclosure tool for the Department of Labor, a disclosure document for plan participants and beneficiaries, and a source of information and data for use by other Federal agencies, Congress, and the private sector in assessing employee benefit, tax, and economic trends and policies.
Tags:
DOL, Form 5500, United States Department of Labor, ERISA, IRS
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SBC Update

Posted April 11th, 2016 in Producers, Employers
SBC Update
Originally posted on January 2, 2015 and updated on April 10, 2015, June 19, 2015 and April 11, 2016.
 
Tags:
healthcare reform, SBC, proposed regulations, HRAs, Employee Benefits, employers, HHS, IRS, DOL
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Student Health Plans

Posted February 12th, 2016 in Producers, Employers, Individuals
Student Health Plans
In most instances an employer can no longer pay or reimburse employees with pre-tax dollars for health coverage that is obtained in the individual market. The Department of Labor (DOL) recently issued Technical Release 2016-1 in relation to how this rule impacts student health plans.
 
Tags:
healthcare reform, ACA, Affordable Care Act, individual, DOL
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ACA Out-of-Pocket Max Clarity

Posted August 20th, 2013 in Producers, Employers, Individuals
ACA Out-of-Pocket Max Clarity

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) requires non-grandfathered plans to impose limitations on out-of-pocket expenses for essential health benefits starting in 2014. The out-of-pocket limitations will be capped next year at $6,350 for single coverage and $12,700 for family coverage. 

However, some self-funded plans will be exempt from this requirement until 2015. The guidance indicates that self-funded plans contracting with multiple service providers can delay this requirement for one year. 

Tags:
healthcare reform, Out-of-pocket expenses, limitations, individual health plans, DOL, United States Department of Labor, group health
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DOL Releases Required Public Exchange Model Notices

Posted May 16th, 2013 in Employers, Producers
DOL Releases Model Notice Templates

Most employers will be required to provide a written notification to employees in regards to the ability to access coverage through the new Health Insurance Marketplaces, also known as the exchanges. Even employers that don't provide coverage to their employees will be required to provide this written notification.

Tags:
Business, COBRA, DOL, health insurance marketplace, October 1 2013, public exchanges, United States Department of Labor, healthcare reform
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