On March 28, 2019, a federal judge ruled that parts of the Trump administration’s 2018 final rule on association health plans (AHPs) were invalid. The court directed the Department of Labor (DOL) to reconsider how the remaining provisions of the…

On Monday, March 4, 2019, major drugmaker Eli Lilly announced that they would begin selling an authorized generic version of their top-selling insulin, Humalog 100, for half the cost. A vial of Humalog 100 costs $275, while a vial of…

This benchmark survey demonstrates how employers across the nation are responding to continually rising health care costs. Survey results indicate that enrollment in a high deductible health plan (HDHP) with a health savings account (HSA) increased, while enrollment in a…

The IRS has again determined that some employers, insurers and other providers of Minimum Essential Coverage (MEC) need additional time to gather and analyze the information and prepare the 2018 Forms 1095-B and 1095-C to be furnished to individuals. Therefore,…

Under the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003 (MMA), employers that offer prescription drug coverage on a group basis are required to provide annual notice to both employees/covered individuals and to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid…

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) released draft 2018 forms for reporting under Internal Revenue Code (Code) Sections 6055 and 6056. The draft 2018 forms are substantially similar to the final 2017 versions. 2018 draft Forms 1094-C and 1095-C were released…

Through 2018, Harvard Pilgrim is offering online weight management and healthy eating programs with Gain Life for all fully insured accounts. The programs are available to self-insured accounts for a fee. Gain Life's 16-week programs are personalized by gender and…

In many cases, when a prescription is purchased by a patient the prescription drug manufacturer pays a rebate to the pharmacy benefit manager (PBM), who then shares a portion of the rebate with the health insurer. Effective January 1, 2019…

On June 19, 2018, the Department of Labor (DOL) released a final rule that gives small businesses more freedom to join together as a single group to purchase health insurance in the large group market or to self-insure. These benefit…

As of June 11, 2018, John Elias began his five year term as the new Commissioner of the New Hampshire Insurance Department, replacing Robert Sevigny after 16 years in the post. Commissioner Elias was nominated by Governor Chris T. Sununu…

New Jersey became the second state to enact its own individual mandate penalty. On May 30, 2018, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy signed two bills into law that are designed to stabilize and reduce health insurance premiums in the individual…

Every three years, the DOL must submit its model FMLA forms to the federal Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for approval for continued use. The OMB’s approval for the current FMLA forms expires in 2018. This expiration date is…