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No Surprises Act: Making Healthcare Costs More Transparent

More than a third of employees in a recent survey said that the medical bills they receive after seeking care are “always or usually” a surprise to them. Yet, 28% say they pay them anyway because they don’t want to fight with the insurance company. What causes surprise medical billings? Insurance plans cover large portions of medical care, but deductibles or co-pays may come into play. Out-of-network providers may charge more for a service than

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Heart Health in Women

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, heart disease is the leading cause of death for both African American and Caucasian women. Despite the launch of numerous awareness initiatives, only a little more than half of women understand the risks. With understanding comes preventative measures. So let’s look at what heart disease is and what we (especially women) can do about it. What is heart disease? “Heart disease” includes a variety of conditions

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Help Employees Understand Their Benefits

Companies spend a lot of time and money creating valuable benefits plans for employees. But even after all that work, they still often get low participation. Good benefit choices require employers to help employees understand their benefits. PlanSponsor recently reported that two-thirds of employees want year-round help understanding and using their benefits. That number goes up to 78% among Millennials. So, let’s take a look at what employees need to best use the benefits you provide.

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Boost Employee Productivity by Respecting Physical and Mental Wellbeing

The pandemic has changed so many areas of life, including the way we work. Without warning, millions of Americans found themselves working remotely, becoming teachers at home, and having to isolate from colleagues and friends. The isolation and lack of camaraderie affected people differently. As employers begin to reopen offices, how can they keep employees productive while also respecting their physical and mental wellbeing? What challenges are employers facing to keep employees productive? As we

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Where We Are: COVID-19 Relief and Health Plans

Throughout the coronavirus pandemic, many relief measures have been enacted, from stimulus payments to extended deadlines to COBRA subsidies. Keeping up with these relief measures, how long they apply and what employers need to do to stay compliant can be most challenging. With expiration dates right around the corner, it’s important to know what’s coming in terms of COVID-19 relief and health plans. But before we get into that, how did we get here to

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2022 FSA Contribution Limit Increased to $2,850

On November 10, 2021, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced 2022 annual limits for Flexible Spending Account (FSA) contributions, maximum carryover amounts, Transportation benefit (Transit/Commuter/Parking) contributions, and Qualified Small Employer Health Reimbursement Arrangement (QSEHRAs) amounts. The announcement was made in Rev. Proc. 2021-45. 2022 FSA Contributions The maximum health FSA contribution limit will be $2,850. Health FSAs can be used for a wide range of qualified out-of-pocket expenses. These include over-the-counter and prescription medications, deductibles,

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Is Your HSA Boosting Your Retirement Fund?

As pandemic-related losses have driven business owners to cut costs, High Deductible Health Plans (HDHPs) have enabled them to provide healthcare options to employees while minimizing premium expenses. Due to higher deductibles, HDHPs require some adjustment on the part of employees. To help with out-of-pocket costs, HDHPs are often coupled with Health Savings Accounts (HSAs). HSAs were designed to help make healthcare more affordable and give people more freedom in making healthcare choices. You can

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Press Release: New Whitepaper Examines Health of CDH Market after a Decade of the ACA

LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS (Nov. 1, 2021) – DataPath, Inc., a leading developer of technology solutions for employee benefits administration, has published a whitepaper titled, “Eleven Years After the Affordable Care Act, The Consumer-Directed Healthcare Market Thrives.” The paper explores the health of CDH accounts after a decade of the ACA – and concludes that it is booming. The whitepaper details many of the major provisions of the Affordable Care Act. It also examines its effects

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Double Whammy: Flu Season During a Pandemic

Flu season can be miserable even in a normal year. During a pandemic, it’s even scarier, especially if you are in a vulnerable population. This year it is more important than ever to have the latest information on available vaccinations, corresponding costs and how to pay for them. Many health insurance plans cover routine vaccinations such as flu shots with little or no cost-sharing. However, if you do have to pay for it, flu shots

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Did You Know? Qualified FSA Expenses that May Surprise You

Most FSA participants are familiar with the “traditional” health care expenses that qualify for FSA reimbursement. But there are other eligible expenses that you may not have heard about. Read on to learn more ways to maximize your FSA spending and lower your net healthcare costs. Flexible spending accounts (FSAs) have been around since the 1970s, when the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) introduced them in response to rising healthcare costs. An FSA is a tax-advantaged,

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