Recent Articles
2011 Health Savings Account Changes
Due to the enactment of the National Health Law (PPACA - Patient Protections and Affordable Care Act) beginning January 1, 2011 the following changes will affect Health Savings Accounts: The Excise Tax on ineligible HSA reimbursements increases from 10% to 20%. This...
Surveys: Health Costs to Rise more than 8%
Hewitt Associates Inc. Survey Large U.S. employers are expecting to pay an average of $9,821 in health insurance premiums per employee in 2011, up from an average of $9,028 this year. Hewitt Associates Inc., Lincolnshire, Ill. (NYSE:HEW), has published those figures...
Union/Collectively Bargained Plans – Health Care Reform Update
Whether fully insured or self-insured, unions must implement the same provisions as other grandfathered plans for plan years beginning on or after September 23, 2010. However, fully insured plans get some special treatment in the interim final grandfathering rules....
Aetna to Discontinue Child-only policies beginning October 1, 2010
For 10/1/10 and later effective dates, Aetna will discontinue new business sales of child-only policies to applicants (under the age of 19) for Aetna Advantage Plans for Individuals, Families and the Self Employed. No existing policyholders are affected by this...
Expired COBRA Subsidy Gets Mixed Reviews
The temporary health benefits continuation subsidy helped some involuntarily terminated workers but came nowhere close to providing “universal coverage.” Researchers at the Urban Institute, Washington, give that assessment in a review of the 65% federal COBRA group...
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois Now Offering 2 New Standardized Medicare Supplement Insurance Plans
As of June 1, 2010 Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois (BCBSIL) is offering new Medicare Supplement Insurance Plans G and N. Members and those considering Plans G and N can enroll at anytime; there are no specific enrollment periods or deadlines. The changes to the...
IRS Issues 2011 HSA Limits; Same as 2010
Calendar year 2011, the limit on contributions for an individual with self-only coverage under a high-deductible health plan
IRS Releases Small Group Tax Credit Examples
The Internal Revenue Service has come out with guidelines for small commercial and nonprofit employers that want to take advantage of a new health insurance tax break. The small employer health insurance tax credit guidelines, given in IRS Notice 2010-44, include...
U.S. Government Posts Dependent Care Regulations
Federal agencies are rushing young adult dependent coverage interim final rules into effect without going through the usual comment period. The Employee Benefits Security Administration, an arm of the U.S. Department of Labor, has posted a preliminary version of the...
Tax-Free Employer-Provided Health Coverage Now Available for Children under Age 27
As a result of changes made by the recently enacted Affordable Care Act, health coverage provided for an employee's children under 27 years of age is now generally tax-free to the employee, effective March 30, 2010. The Internal Revenue Service announced today that...