ICHRAs can help businesses provide big benefits

Attractive benefits plans are essential in today’s labor market. Smaller businesses in particular often struggle to find affordable group health insurance plans that comply with ACA regulations. Take a look at how an Individual Coverage Health Reimbursement Arrangement, or ICHRA, can help businesses. What is an ICHRA? ICHRAs are an attractive option for both employers and their employees. Under an ICHRA, employers reimburse employees for their individual health insurance premiums instead of sponsoring a group health plan.

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Quick Guide to HSA Eligible Expenses

Since they were enacted in 2003, Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) have become an integral part of the consumer directed healthcare landscape for those with a high deductible health plan. One of the chief benefits of having an HSA is that account holders can use that money to pay for a wide range of eligible medical expenses for themselves, their spouses, and their tax dependents.

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How do Medicare Set Aside Accounts Work?

A Medicare Set Aside account, also known as an MSA, is an important component of the workers’ compensation payment landscape. Here’s the essential information you need to know about who qualifies for them, how they work, approved expenses, etc. What is a Medicare Set Aside Account? A Medicare Set Aside Account (MSA) is a settlement resulting from a workers’ compensation or personal injury claim. Settlement funds are ‘set aside’ in a special account to pay

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Hiring Troubles? How Current Employees May Help

Many employers are having trouble filling job openings. Avenues to attract new employees – from signing bonuses to additional paid time off – haven’t solved the problem. Human resources experts suggest looking within to see how current employees may be able to help. Reconsider Job Requirements In 2021, Forbes reported that only 36% of Americans 25 and older hold college degrees (Bachelor’s or higher). Meanwhile, 65% of job listings still require them. The educational nonprofit Hechinger Report notes that

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Benefits Debit Cards: More Convenience for Everyone

Linking tax-advantaged benefits accounts such as FSAs and HSAs to benefits debit cards is more convenient for everyone concerned. Employees are able to make eligible purchases without having to front the expense, file a claim, and wait for a reimbursement. Employers and TPAs usually do not have to manually process a claim due to the automated substantiation processes that govern most benefits debit cards. So, let’s learn more about how benefits debit cards offer more

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Can I have an HSA and FSA account at the same time?

If your employer offers both Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) and Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs), you may be wondering if it’s possible to have both an HSA and an FSA account at the same time. HSA/FSA Accounts If you are enrolled in an HSA-eligible health plan, you can enroll in an HSA account as long as you aren’t also enrolled in Medicare or have some other, disqualifying coverage. Traditional FSA accounts cover most of the same

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Some Nutritional Expenses are FSA/HSA Eligible

Did you know you can use your Flexible Spending Account (FSA) or Health Savings Account (HSA) for some certain nutritional expenses? Qualified medical expenses for these tax-advantaged accounts include “the costs of diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease, and the costs for treatments affecting any part or function of the body.” Simply put, the eligible nutritional item has to relieve or prevent a physical or mental defect or illness. Eligible expenses must have a

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New Reporting and Compliance Requirements in 2022

Employers depend heavily on their third-party administrators (TPAs) for much of the information and assistance they need to stay in compliance with regulatory reporting requirements. The good news is that some of the COVID-related requirements are ending. Other requirements are resuming or are new to the industry. Pharmacy and Health Care Spending Updates As required under the Consolidated Appropriations Act (CAA), all employer groups who offer health plans, along with insurers and pharmacy benefit managers,

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HSAs in Your Retirement Plan?

With the cost of retirement continually rising, it’s important to start planning as soon as possible. You may have an IRA and/or a 401(k). But have you included a Health Savings Account (HSA) in your planning? Each offers important benefits. You may already know how an IRA and a 401K help, but you may not realize how HSAs fit. Individual Retirement Arrangements (IRAs) The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) defines six different types of Individual Retirement

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Is it COVID, Flu or Allergies?

Spring is a wonderful time of year – unless you suffer from allergies. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that flu season can last into May. Just as COVID seems to be dying down, another variant may be just around the corner. With all three of these illnesses presenting some of the same symptoms, how can we tell if what we have is an allergy, the flu, or a COVID infection? Seasonal Allergy

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