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2023 Year-end Checklist for Employee Benefit Plans

2023 Year-end Checklist for Employee  Benefit PlansAlthough the end of the year is a busy time, employers should continue to prioritize compliance requirements for their employee benefit plans. There are several benefits-related tasks that employers should make sure are completed by the end of 2023, such as:

  • Submitting a gag clause attestation for their health plans (or confirming that an issuer or third-party administrator (TPA) submits the attestation);
  • Amending plan documents for discretionary changes made for 2023;
  • Confirming annual notices have been provided, such as the Children’s Health Insurance Plan (CHIP) notice; and Performing any necessary nondiscrimination testing.

Affordable Care Act 2024 Compliance Checklist

Affordable Care Act 2024 Compliance ChecklistThe Affordable Care Act (ACA) made a number of reforms to group health plan coverage when it was enacted in 2010. Since then, changes have been made to various ACA requirements that employers should be aware of. These changes include annual cost-of-living increases to certain ACA dollar limits, extensions to ACA reporting deadlines and updates to preventive care coverage guidelines.


What Employers Should Know About Hush Trips and Workcations

Hush Trips and WorkcationsThe traditional concept of a vacation often involves escaping the daily grind and relaxing in a faraway destination. However, the landscape of work and leisure has recently been transformed, with remote and hybrid work becoming more prevalent. This shift has led to workcations, where remote employees take vacations while still working, and “hush trips,” which are workcations not disclosed to the company.

This article explains hush trips and what employers should know about remote employees taking them.


Medicare Supplement Plans for 2024

Medicare AdvantageIf you are getting close to your 65th birthday, you are likely preparing to enroll in Medicare. Enrolling in Medicare and figuring out how to decrease your out-of-pocket health care expenses can be daunting. A Medicare supplement plan for 2024 can save you money and provide peace of mind.

Original Medicare, which consists of Medicare Part A and Part B, typically does not cover all of an individual’s health care costs. In order to fill the gap, many individuals purchase a Medicare supplement plan. Medicare supplement plans, also known as Medigap policies, are policies that can be purchased to cover expenses that Medicare does not pay.


Final Forms and Instructions for 2023 ACA Reporting Released

Final Forms and Instructions for 2023ACA Reporting ReleasedThe IRS has released final 2023 forms and instructions for reporting under Internal Revenue Code Sections 6055 and 6056:

  • 2023 Forms 1094-B and 1095-B (and instructions) will be used by providers of minimum essential coverage, including self-insured plan sponsors that are not applicable large employers (ALEs), to report under Section 6055.
  • 2023 Forms 1094-C and 1095-C (and instructions) will be used by ALEs to report under Section 6056 as well as for combined Section 6055 and 6056 reporting by ALEs who sponsor self-insured plans.

Health Care Spending Expected to Exceed Overall Economic Growth

Health Care Spending Expected to Exceed Overall Economic GrowthA recent report from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) predicted that the average growth in national health expenditures would outpace average gross domestic product (GDP) growth from 2022 to 2031, at 5.4% and 4.6%,respectively. Per person spending is also expected to increase to an annual rate of 4.8% from 2022 to 2031. This is above pre-COVID-19-pandemic growth rates for per person spending, which averaged 3.9% per capita between 2014 and 2019. CMS anticipated that the growth in national and per person health care spending would contribute to an increase in the health care spending share of the GDP.


Medicare Part D Notices Are Due Before Oct. 15, 2023

Medicare Part D Notices Are DueEach year, Medicare Part D requires group health plan sponsors to disclose to individuals who are eligible for Medicare Part D and to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) whether the health plan’s prescription drug coverage is creditable.

Plan sponsors must provide the annual disclosure notice to Medicare-eligible individuals before Oct. 15, 2023 — the start date of the annual enrollment period for Medicare Part D. CMS has provided model disclosure notices for employers to use.


Original Medicare vs. Medicare Advantage

Original Medicare vs. Medicare AdvantageWhile most Americans have heard of Medicare as one of many health care coverage options, they may not know how it differs from other privately offered options, such as Medicare Advantage. This article explains the differences of Original Medicare vs. Medicare Advantage, including the various doctors one can seek care from, the differences in cost and the range of coverage between plans. While this article provides a useful comparison when choosing a health care plan, each person should ultimately choose a plan that best fits their individual health care needs.


Top 25 Prescription Drugs Have Tripled in Price

Top 25 Prescription Drugs Have TripledA recent report by the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) found the top 25 prescription drugs have tripled in price that Medicare Part D spends the most on. The 25 drugs analyzed in the report represent a significant portion of overall Medicare spending. In fact, the AARP report found that Medicare spent nearly $81 billion on these 25 prescription medications in 2021, more than 37% of total Medicare spending that year. These drugs are taken by more than 10 million Americans enrolled in a Medicare Part D prescription drug plan. Furthermore, the AARP report found that the price increases for all but one of these medications greatly surpassed the annual rate of inflation.


Key HSA Features – 2024 Compliance

Key HSA Features – 2024 ComplianceThis overview summarizes Key HSA Features – 2024 Compliance. Health savings accounts (HSAs) are a popular type of tax-advantaged medical savings account available to individuals enrolled in high deductible health plans (HDHPs). Individuals can use their HSAs to pay for expenses covered under an HDHP until their deductible has been met, or they can use their HSAs to pay for qualified medical expenses that are not covered under the HDHP, such as dental or vision expenses.


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