Employer Resource Library

Health Plan Rules – Treating Employees Differently

4/27/2021

Some employers may want to treat employees differently for purposes of group health plan benefits. In general, employers may treat employees differently, as long as they are not violating federal rules that prohibit discrimination. This Compliance Overview summarizes the nondiscrimination rules that employers should consider when designing their health plan’s rules.

Key HSA Features - 2021 Compliance

3/25/2021

This Compliance Overview includes a chart that summarizes key HSA features for 2021, including employee eligibility rules, annual contribution limits, distribution rules and potential tax benefits.

COVID-19 Relief Extends COBRA, HIPAA and Other Plan Deadlines

3/25/2021

This Compliance Overview summarizes the continuation of relief guidance (Notice 2021-01) from the U.S. Department of Labor, which affects COBRA continuation coverage, special enrollment periods, claims for benefits, appeals of denied claims and external review of certain claims. It also includes the deadline extension for notices and disclosures required under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA).

Consolidated Appropriations Act: Employee Benefits Provisions

1/28/2021

The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (CAA), which was signed into law on Dec. 27, 2020, includes many provisions affecting employers, group health plan sponsors, health benefits brokers and health insurance issuers. This Compliance Overview summarizes the employee benefits provisions relating to tax-favored accounts, surprise medical billing, health care transparency and mental health parity. It also includes various tax provisions that may be of interest to employers.

2021 Health Plan Compliance Deadlines

1/28/2021

Employers must comply with numerous reporting and disclosure requirements throughout the year in connection with their group health plans. This Compliance Overview explains key 2021 compliance deadlines for employer-sponsored group health plans. It also outlines group health plan notices that employers must provide annually.

Employee Benefit Plan Limits for 2021

11/25/2020

Many employee benefits (such as HSAs, health FSAs and transportation fringe benefit plans) are subject to annual dollar limits that are periodically updated for inflation. This Compliance Overview includes a chart of the inflation-adjusted limits for 2021.

2021 State Minimum Wage Rates

10/28/2020

Twenty-four states have announced higher minimum wage rates for 2021. While most of these changes become effective in January, new rates in New York, Nevada, Oregon and Connecticut become effective on different dates. This document has been updated to reflect additional minimum wage announcements published on Oct. 15, 2020.

Open Enrollment 2021 - Benefit Notices

9/29/2020

Employers that sponsor group health plans should provide certain benefit notices in connection with their plans’ open enrollment periods. This Compliance Overview includes a chart that summarizes the benefit notices that employers should provide in connection with their 2021 open enrollment periods.

HIPAA Compliance for Business Associates

7/23/2020

Companies that have access to protected health information (PHI) on behalf of an employer's group health plan typically qualify as "business associates" under HIPAA's Privacy, Security and Breach Notification Rules. For example, TPAs and insurance brokers are business associates if they have access to PHI. This Compliance Overview addresses the compliance requirements for business associates under the HIPAA Rules.

COVID-19 Relief Extends Certain Employee Benefit Plan Deadlines

5/26/2020

This Compliance Overview summarizes the participant deadline extensions under a final rule from the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), which affect COBRA continuation coverage, special enrollment periods, claims for benefits, appeals of denied claims and external review of certain claims. It also includes the deadline extension pursuant to the DOL’s Disaster Relief Notice 2020-01, for notices and disclosures required under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA).

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Health Plan Rules – Treating Employees Differently

Key HSA Features - 2021 Compliance

COVID-19 Relief Extends COBRA, HIPAA and Other Plan Deadlines

Consolidated Appropriations Act: Employee Benefits Provisions

2021 Health Plan Compliance Deadlines

Employee Benefit Plan Limits for 2021

2021 State Minimum Wage Rates

Open Enrollment 2021 - Benefit Notices

HIPAA Compliance for Business Associates

COVID-19 Relief Extends Certain Employee Benefit Plan Deadlines

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