For plan years beginning in 2019, employer-sponsored coverage will be considered affordable if the employee’s required contribution for self-only coverage does not exceed: 9.86% of the employee’s household income for the year, for purposes of both the pay or play…

On May 10, 2018, the IRS released Revenue Procedure 2018-30 to announce the inflation-adjusted limits for health savings accounts (HSAs) and high deductible health plans (HDHPs) for 2019. The adjusted contribution limits for HSAs take effect as of Jan. 1,…

Earlier this year, a tax law change for 2018 reduced the HSA contribution limit for individuals with family HDHP coverage from $6,900 to $6,850. After this change was announced, the IRS received complaints that the $50 reduction would be difficult…

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) requires health insurance issuers and sponsors of self-insured health plans (including qualified Health Reimbursement Arrangements/HRA) to pay Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute fees (PCORI fees). The PCORI fees generally apply to insurance policies providing accident and…

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has released its final Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters for 2019. This final rule describes parameters under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) that apply for the 2019 benefit year. Standards included…

Harvard Pilgrim Health Care will begin offering employers new insurance products through an arrangement with The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America® (Guardian), including dental and vision insurance, basic life and accidental death and dismemberment, life insurance, short and long-term…

The New Hampshire Insurance Department announced that NHHealthCost.org launched new features that allow site visitors to simultaneously compare the cost and quality of health care facilities. Along with a streamlined interface and updated rate information, consumers can now use side-by-side…

A 2018 spending bill enacted on March 23, 2018, amends the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) to: Prohibit employers from retaining employees’ tips, regardless of whether the tip credit is used; and Eliminate prior regulations that barred tip pooling when…

On April 9, 2018, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) extended an existing transition policy for certain health plans that do not comply with the Affordable Care Act (ACA) for an additional year, to policy years beginning on…

On Wednesday, April 11, 2018, CVS Health announced its new tool, CVS Pharmacy Rx Savings Finder (Rx Savings Finder), which is designed to reduce consumers’ concern over rising costs. Rx Savings Finder will enable the company's retail pharmacists to evaluate…

As a means to reduce rising health care costs, innovative solutions are rising to the surface. One such solution is known as direct primary care (DPC). What is DPC? In this model, physicians, pediatricians and internists charge a monthly membership…

In March 2018 the IRS issued Notice 2018-12 to address whether individuals are eligible for health savings account (HSA) contributions if they are covered under health plans that provide benefits for male sterilization or male contraceptives without a deductible. At…