Blog
FSA Contribution Limits for 2025
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On October 22, 2024, the IRS announced that the limit on employees’ salary reduction contributions to a health Flexible Spending Account (FSA) will increase to $3,3000 for plan years beginning in 2025. This is an increase from the 2024 limit of $3,200. By understanding the latest contribution limits, individuals can better plan for 2025 and…
Benefits and Me November 2024
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Maximizing Your Open Enrollment Did you know that nearly 7 in 10 employees spend 30 minutes or fewer reviewing their open enrollment benefits options? Unfortunately, that’s far less than most Americans’ daily social media time. Open enrollment is crucial for making informed decisions about your health care and benefits. To maximize this period, start by…
Massachusetts Health Care Reform & Reporting Requirements
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The Massachusetts Health Care Reform Act (Act) was enacted in April 2006 to provide nearly universal health care coverage forMassachusetts residents. To carry out this objective, the Act created an individual mandate and employer coverage andreporting requirements, among other things. The Act precedes the federal healthcare reform law—the Affordable Care Act(ACA)— that was enacted in…
Navigating Employee Benefits: A Glossary
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Employee benefits can be a complex landscape, filled with acronyms and unfamiliar terms. In fact, more than 50% of American adults report that they don’t have a clear understanding of their health insurance. Many people are confused because they reach adulthood without ever learning the basics of health insurance terminology. Illiteracy about health insurance is…
Gag Clause Attestation Deadline
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As the year comes to an end, a crucial compliance deadline looms for employers with health plans. Under the Consolidated Appropriations Act (CAA), health plans and insurance issuers must submit a Gag Clause Compliance Attestation by December 31, 2024. Since its enactment in 2020, this regulation prohibits health plans from including gag clauses—provisions that limit…
Final Rule Expands Mental Health Parity Requirements
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The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has issued a final rule that significantly expands the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Act (MHPAEA) requirements under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). This rule aims to ensure that health plans provide equal coverage for mental health and substance use disorder (MH/SUD) benefits as they do for…
Health Plans Must Update HIPAA Policies for New Reproductive Health Care Rights
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Beginning Dec. 23, 2024, covered entities and their business associates must comply with stricter HIPAA privacy protections for reproductive health care. These new protections prohibit regulated entities from using or disclosing protected health information (PHI) related to lawful reproductive health care: In addition, regulated entities must obtain a valid attestation when a request is made…
Benefits 101: What Is a FSA?
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When it comes to health insurance, there is a lot of jargon and plenty of acronyms. Many people have heard of FSAs, but may not actually know — what is a flexible spending account, exactly? If you have an employer-sponsored health plan, a flexible spending account (FSA) is often available as part of the benefits…
The Pay or Play Percentage Increase for 2025
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The Affordable Care Act (ACA) requires large employers to offer affordable health insurance coverage to their full-time employees or face a penalty known as the “Pay or Play” tax. This tax is based on the employer’s average monthly wage (AMW) and the number of full-time employees. The affordability rate for employer-sponsored health coverage will increase from 8.39% to…
Bridging the Generational Divide: Leveraging Technology for Effective Communication
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In today’s diverse workplaces, effective communication across generations is essential for fostering collaboration, productivity, and a positive work environment. Understanding the unique communication preferences of each generation can help bridge the gap and create a more inclusive and harmonious workplace. Technology can play a crucial role in bridging the generational gap and facilitating seamless communication.…