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The Affordable Care Act (ACA) requires virtually all employers that provide group health insurance coverage to report information about the value of these benefits to employees via their W2. Since the requirement took effect in 2014, the IRS has exempted some businesses. Still, for those that have to report, the... read more →

On December 27, 2020, President Trump signed the “Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2020” (CAA) into law. Over the next few weeks, we will share more information about the 5,593-page law, but until then, here are some key takeaways: FSA Relief: Employers can allow employees to carry over unused funds or... read more →

Pfizer and Moderna recently announced that their experimental coronavirus vaccines appear to be 95% effective, prompting employers to consider if they can require employees to vaccinate once doses are accessible to the general public. The short answer is yes, companies probably will be able to ask their workforce to vaccinate as a condition... read more →

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) have announced the Medicare Part B standard premium, Income Related Monthly Adjustment Amounts (IRMAAs) for Parts B and D of Medicare, and the Part B deductible for 2021: The standard Part B Premium is increasing by $3.90/month to $148.50 in 2021 (up from $144.60 in... read more →

On 10/28/2020, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy signed Executive Order 192, which requires NJ employers to conduct COVID-19 symptom screenings at the worksite. The measure also implements other worksite safety precautions related to the coronavirus pandemic. The new requirements are the first state action of this kind nationwide. As of 6:00 am... read more →

Employer groups that offer prescription drug coverage to Medicare eligible employees, dependents and/or retirees, need to provide annual creditable disclosures to both their eligible plan participants and the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). “Creditable” plans mean that the coverage provided is as good as, if not better... read more →

On August 3, 2020, the Federal court for the Southern District of New York struck down four segments of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act’s (FFCRA) interim final rules on paid leave. The court ruled that with regard to the below, the US  Department of Labor (USDOL) exceeded the bounds... read more →

New Jersey's Family Leave Insurance (NJFLI) benefits partially replace wages of workers who need to care for a seriously ill or injured family member, or bond with a newborn, newly adopted or newly placed foster child. The program complements the New Jersey Temporary Disability Insurance (NJTDI) program, which partially replaces wages... read more →

On July 31, 2020, Governor Murphy signed a new 2.5% net premium tax into law. It will apply to fully-insured individual and large group health insurance policies sold in the state, beginning on January 1, 2021. The Murphy Administration hopes the new tax will generate $220M in new revenue annually, some... read more →

Many insurance carriers are in the process of issuing employer-sponsored group health, dental and vision plan credits for future premiums owed or on current (or past) premiums billed, in response to the coronavirus pandemic and disruption in overall utilization of benefits. While any premium savings or credits are welcome news... read more →