resources
September 8, 2021
Sample Open Enrollment Notices Packet
Including: Important Notice About Your Prescription Drug Coverage and Medicare: Provide this notice by October 14 to all participants and dependents who are or may become eligible for Medicare Part D in the next 12 months if the prescription drug coverage provided by the plan is “creditable.” ...
September 7, 2021
Six Employer Questions to Answer Before Imposing a Surcharge on Unvaccinated Workers
Many employers are struggling to increase COVID-19 vaccination rates among their workforce, concerned not only about both the safety of the workforce but also the costs of COVID-19 treatment that could be avoided through vaccination. Some are now turning to the possibility of a higher premium ...
September 2, 2021
Notice Deadline Nearing for the End of COBRA Subsidies
COBRA subsidy ends September 30, 2021 The COBRA subsidy period under the American Rescue Plan Act (“ARPA”) is nearing its end (September 30, 2021) If required, notices must be sent by September 15, 2021 If a former employee presently covered under COBRA received a COBRA subsidy, you have a ...
August 30, 2021
Departments Defer Transparency and Disclosure Rule Enforcement, Provide FAQ Guidance
On August 20, 2021, the U.S. Departments of Health and Human Services, Labor, and Treasury (collectively, the Departments), issued FAQ guidance regarding provisions of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), the No Surprises Act (the Act) and the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (CAA). ...
August 23, 2021
Advocacy in Action | Benefit Program Education
Ingrid needed help. Her child needed to be evaluated by a neuropsychologist. Ingrid did not fully understand her benefits and was looking at using an out of network provider—oh no! After her conversation with a patient advocate, she understood the benefit (insurance and financial) of using an ...
August 19, 2021
Brainstorm Techniques to Elevate Team Creativity
“How should we fix this problem?” is a question that has been asked time and again in the boardroom, around the lunch table and likely on your last Zoom call at work. In this scenario, some may look to the most experienced person in the room or on the call to decide. Sometimes we invite...
August 19, 2021
Take Ten: The 50-Minute Meeting
The clock on the computer screen blinks 3:00 p.m. and it dawns on you that you haven’t eaten your first (or second!) meal of the day. Nor have you stood up from your desk to stretch your legs or used the restroom. Your back feels tight and you have the early stages of a raging...
August 19, 2021
First-Time Manager Faux Pas
Just like a bad Yelp review, most employees can recall a boss (or two) that they would give a low management rating. Maybe it was the boss who didn’t respect their time outside of the office or the one who asked for results with an unreasonably short deadline. Or maybe it was the supervisor ...
August 19, 2021
The Pomodoro Technique Can You Find More Time with Tomatoes
Who holds the key to time management? Is it your partner who diligently uses a paper planner to chart out all meetings in pencil? Or your boss who devotes the last hour of their day to track and organize projects? Or maybe it’s you? You fire up your laptop hours before your peers so you...
August 19, 2021
Compliance Recap | July 2021
July 2021 was a quiet month in the benefits industry, largely due to the summer vacation season and the July 4th Independence Day holiday. Importantly, however, the U.S. Departments of Health and Human Services, Labor, and Treasury, along with the Office of Personnel Management (collectively, ...
