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Prohibition on Excessive Waiting Periods Begins 2014
Group health plans are prohibited from imposing excessive waiting periods on an otherwise eligible employee (or dependent) under...
Dec 27, 2013
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Transitional Reinsurance Fee Updates
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) created a transitional reinsurance program (TRP) fee to help partially offset the...
Dec 23, 2013
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Final Mental Health Parity Rules Released
The agencies have issued final rules under the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 (MHPAEA). In February 2010, interim...
Nov 22, 2013
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Same-Sex Marriage Now Legal in New Jersey
Same-sex marriage became legal in the state of New Jersey on October 21, 2013. With the addition of the same-sex marriage law, NJ...
Nov 14, 2013
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New Guidance Requires Action by Employers for their HRA Plans
The US Treasury Department and the Department of Labor (DOL) recently issued guidance concerning how the Patient Protection & Affordable...
Nov 12, 2013
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Various Tax Benefits Increased for 2014
The IRS recently released new inflation-adjusted amounts for 2014, establishing the tax-related salary deduction limits on a variety of...
Nov 11, 2013
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Transition Relief for Non-Calendar Year Cafeteria Plans
The IRS recently issued Notice 2013-71 which clarifies when non-calendar year cafeteria plans can permit employees to change their 2013...
Nov 7, 2013
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IRS Allows Health FSA Carryovers
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) recently issued Notice 2013-71 which modifies the longstanding “use-or-lose” rule for health flexible...
Nov 6, 2013
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The Individual Mandate Initial Enrollment - Six Week Extension
The healthcare reform exchange Marketplace is now “open for business” and millions of users have visited the healthcare.gov website....
Oct 30, 2013
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Marketplace Enrollment Periods and Issues with Employer-Sponsored Health Plans
Enrollment into the health insurance Marketplaces (health reform “exchanges”) is currently underway. Enrollment began October 1, 2013 and...
Oct 25, 2013
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New – HIPAA Model Notice of Privacy Practices
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) privacy rule gives individuals a fundamental right to adequate notice of...
Oct 21, 2013
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IRS Guidance Clarifies Payment for Preventive Services Under HDHP/HSA Arrangements
On September 9, 2013, IRS Notice 2013-57 clarified that a high-deductible health plan (HDHP) used with a health savings account (HSA) can...
Sep 17, 2013
4 views
BREAKING NEWS: DOL Guidance Clarifies Market Notice Issue - No Fine for Failure to Provide Notice of
In a very brief Frequently Asked Question (FAQ) document issued on September 11, 2013, the U.S. Department of Labor formally clarified...
Sep 12, 2013
2 views
Deductible Limits and Out-of-Pocket Maximums Begin in 2014
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) imposes cost-sharing limits on non-grandfathered group health plans beginning with...
Sep 12, 2013
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IRS Recognizes Legal Same Sex Spouse Marriages
The agencies have begun to issue guidance clarifying their position on Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) issues for legally married same-sex...
Sep 6, 2013
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General Compliance Date for the HIPAA Final Rule Grows Near
September 23rd 2013 marks the general compliance enforcement date for the Final Rule of the Omnibus Health Insurance Portability and...
Aug 23, 2013
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Employers Still Required to Issue Exchange Notices by October 1st
One of the major elements of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (“PPACA”) is the creation of various insurance Exchanges...
Aug 14, 2013
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MLR Rebate Deadline Approaching
August 1, 2013 will mark the second consecutive annual medical loss ratio (MLR) deadline. Health plan issuers, if required, must issue...
Jul 22, 2013
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Pay or Play Employer Mandate Delayed One Year
The Obama Administration has announced a one-year delay before the PPACA employer mandate known as “pay or play” will begin. This is...
Jul 3, 2013
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Exchanges: New Consumer Applications and the Employer Notice
In anticipation of the initial healthcare exchange (or Marketplace) open enrollment, which begins October 1, 2013, the agencies have...
May 20, 2013
4 views