March 8, 2021 - On Friday, February 26, 2021, the Department of Labor (DOL) released EBSA Disaster Relief Notice 2021-01, which provides guidance on the duration of COVID-related relief and the National Emergency “Outbreak Period.”

February 26, 2021

The IRS has issued Notice 2021-15, providing additional guidance to the Consolidated Appropriations Act (CAA) enacted on December 27, 2020.

February 17, 2021

Must an employer maintain health insurance benefits for an injured employee who is out on Workers' Compensation leave? When can the employee be placed on COBRA? The interaction of Workers' Compensation, FMLA, and COBRA all come into play in answering these questions. 

February 17, 2021

The IRS has released Notice 2020-84, updating the amount of the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) fee that self-insured health plans must pay for plan years ending on or after October 1, 2020, and before October 1, 2021. PCORI fees are due by July 31 of the year following the end of the plan year.

February 17, 2021

Today, savings and spending plan participants can swipe their benefit card and funds are automatically deducted from their benefit account(s) for eligible expenses. The benefit card eliminates most out-of-pocket cash outlays and paperwork, as well as the need for reimbursement checks. Some FSA and HRA debit card transactions, however, may still require substantiation. These substantiation requests can be a real pain point for employers and plan participants, so here are some helpful details to provide clarity.

February 17, 2021

As we get further into 2021, it is unclear when the COVID-19 national emergency ("Outbreak Period") will end. However, the temporary extension of certain benefits time frames can be no more than one year (ending at the latest on February 28, 2021). Health and benefits professionals and their advisors should be aware of the imminent end to the relief and start planning to rollback processes to regular time frames effective March 1, 2021. 

February 17, 2021

The 2021 Consolidated Appropriations Act (CAA) was signed into law on December 27, 2020. Designed to provide economic relief for victims of the COVID-19 pandemic, the relief provided limited provisions that directly affect limited, health, and dependent care flexible spending accounts (FSAs). Employers have the option to take advantage of any of these non-mandatory provisions, as long as their plan is amended to do so. 

February 17, 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic has economically impacted many families through small business closures and job layoffs. The price of treating COVID-related illness has also negatively affected many Americans. One positive is that those with a health savings account (HSA) or healthcare flexible spending account (FSA) may be able to use these funds to cover COVID-related medical expenses. Here are a few helpful FAQs.

February 17, 2021

January 2021 has already flown by, and a new year means preparing to file new tax returns. Owning a Health Savings Account (HSA) has tax implications, so here’s what HSA account holders, employers, and their advisors need to know to be ready for the upcoming tax season. 

January 28, 2021

It has been a month since President Trump signed into law new economic relief called the Consolidated Appropriations Act (CAA) 2021. The relief contained provisions affecting Health FSAs and Dependent Care FSAs.