Bulletins

Employers have an annual obligation to issue a CMS coverage notice to all Medicare-eligible plan participants, including dependents and retirees. The notice informs Medicare-eligible participants whether their prescription coverage is at least as good as Medicare’s.

Since 2013, employers have been responsible for providing employees one of two Insurance Marketplace notices summarizing their health insurance options. There is no annual obligation to provide the notice to all employees, rather employers must provide the notice to all new hires, regardless of...

Given the National Public Health Emergency has been extended to October 23, 2020, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas City (Blue KC) will maintain current COVID-19 policies through October 23:

The IRS recently raised the affordability threshold for the 2021 calendar year to 9.83% of household income from the 2020 threshold of 9.78%. This percentage is used to determine an individual’s eligibility for a premium tax credit and the affordability of employer-sponsored coverage. Failure to...

Recently, several statesadopted requirements forthe general publicto wear masksoutsidetheir homes.Because this includes the workplace, employers inthesestatesare advised to develop a compliant mask policy. 

Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans were the saving grace for many small businesses over the past two months. However, the forgiveness qualifications continue to evolve, leaving business owners confused and wondering if they’ll meet forgiveness requirements.

The pandemic interrupted processes globally, and employee health benefits are no exception. Certain deadlines temporarily changed for health reimbursement arrangements (HRAs), COBRA and flexible spending accounts (FSAs).

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas City (Blue KC) established new assistance programs and COVID-19 relief policy extensions to aid employer groups during the outbreak.

Contribution limits for 2021 Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) will increase $50 for self-only coverage and $100 for family coverage, the IRS recently announced. HSA contribution and plan limits will increase to $3,600 for self-only coverage and $7,200 for family coverage. Changes to the limits are...

Traditionally, section 125 plan elections are irrevocable for a plan year unless a participant experiences a qualifying event. In response to the pandemic, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) released three notices that provide flexibility through December 31, 2020, concerning