ARRA and ARPA; stack of paperwork on busy desk

ARRA vs ARPA: Comparing COBRA Subsidies and Administrative Challenges

In the world of employer-sponsored benefits, COBRA subsidies have been the hot topic since the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) passed in March 2021. Not only does ARPA directly affect people who have lost their jobs since March 2020, but it also has a significant impact on how employers and COBRA administrators are handling the surge in COBRA eligibility over the past year. ARPA has drawn comparisons to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA)

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COVID-19 PPE Now Eligible for FSA, HRA, HSA Plans

The fight against COVID-19 has expanded to the purchase of personal protective equipment (PPE) items. On Friday, March 26, the IRS released Announcement 2021-7, which qualifies PPE purchased for the primary purpose of preventing the spread of COVID-19 as medical expenses under section 213(d) of the Internal Revenue Code. The regulation allows specific items to be purchased with or reimbursed from a health Flexible Spending Account (FSA), Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA), or Health Savings Account (HSA).

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ARPA Subsidy FAQ

ARPA COBRA Subsidy Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

On Thursday, March 11, President Biden signed the  American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) of 2021. Among other features, ARPA provides full COBRA subsidies under specific circumstances and creates significant additional COBRA enrollment eligibility. The following is a list of common ARPA COBRA subsidy frequently asked questions (FAQs). This is not intended to be legal advice. Please contact your benefits counsel if you need additional guidance. ARPA COBRA Subsidy FAQs Are all COBRA-standard Qualifying Events (QEs) eligible

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Whitepaper: Maximize Account Adoption During Enrollment Season

Whitepaper: How to Maximize Account Adoption During Enrollment Season

During enrollment season, benefits administrators and employers look to build and deliver a benefits package that helps companies keep and attract top talent. While employees generally report they are happy with their employer’s benefits, statistics show that account adoption is often lacking. With a better understanding of their employer groups and proven educational approaches, TPAs can experience a more successful and fulfilling open enrollment period. Background Open enrollment can be a stressful time for benefits

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ARPA: COBRA Subsidies and DCAP Limit Increase

ARPA is Approved: COBRA Subsidies and DCAP Increase Part of Legislation

President Biden signed The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) of 2021 into law on Thursday, March 11, 2021. In addition to stimulus checks and child tax credits, ARPA features full COBRA subsidies for a limited time and an increase in the maximum contribution limits for people who use Dependent Care Assistance Plans (DCAP) through their employer. Learn more below. COBRA Subsidies Under ARPA Under very specific circumstances, the ARPA legislation provides full COBRA subsidies from

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COBRA Time Frames due to COVID-19 extensions

Reelin’ in the Year: DOL Clarifies COBRA Time Frames Related to COVID-19

On Friday, February 26, the Department of Labor (DOL) published Disaster Relief Notice 2021-01, a follow up to the Joint Notice published May 4, 2020. The May notice required that health and retirement plans disregard a number of deadlines for individuals during the COVID-19 National Emergency, plus a 60-day period (the “Outbreak Period”) starting March 1, 2020. The COBRA deadlines impacted in the May 2020 notice include: The February 26 notice clarifies the position of

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Press Release: New Whitepaper Examines Administrative Concerns with COBRA and COVID-19 Deadlines

DataPath examines the effects of COVID-19 on COBRA and upcoming ERISA plan deadlines LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS (February 16, 2021) – DataPath, Inc., a leading developer of technology solutions for employee benefits administration, has published a whitepaper titled, “COVID-19 and COBRA Continuation Insurance: Where Do We Stand?” The paper takes a deeper look at the effect of the COVID-19 healthcare crisis on the economy – specifically, its impact on the COBRA insurance market – and how

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COVID-19 Outbreak Period for ERISA Plans Expires February 28

Third-Party Administrators (TPAs) need to be aware of the upcoming end to the COVID-19 outbreak period for group health plans. This deadline, which ends February 28, 2021, could cause unfamiliar administrative burdens on TPAs. In May 2020, following the passage of the CARES Act, the IRS and DOL issued a joint notice on COVID-19 deadline extensions for ERISA. The February 28, 2021 end date is based on the CARES Act, which determined the outbreak period

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HRA vs HSA - Similarities, Differences

HRA vs HSA: Examining the Similarities and Differences

Do you know the difference between a HRA vs HSA? The key difference between the two is that an HRA is employer-owned whereas an HSA is employee-owned. With an HSA, the employee keeps the account and can transfer it when he or she changes jobs. Account holders may also invest their HSA funds.

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Health FSA and DCAP Carryover Rules Approved for 2021

In December 2020, Congress passed the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (CAA), a $900 billion COVID stimulus bill. The legislation was aimed at helping Americans cope with pandemic-related challenges. Along with stimulus payments and other financial provisions, the bill also included modified carryover and dependent rules for Dependent Care Assistance Plan (DCAP) benefits, spend-down for health Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs), election changes, and other updates. Traditionally, DCAP benefits have not included a carryover provision. However, with

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HSA withdrawal penalty

Understanding the HSA Withdrawal Penalty and Other Useful Information

Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) are a wonderful tool for saving money on healthcare expenses. When you enroll in a qualified high deductible health plan and sign up for an HSA, you contribute pre-tax money into an account then withdraw those funds for qualified healthcare expenses. When used for qualified expenses, withdrawals are tax-free. However, many HSA owners wonder if the money can be used for non-qualified expenses. If so, is there an HSA withdrawal penalty?

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Dependent Care FSA and Carryover – Is Relief Coming?

Since early 2020, the U.S. has been reeling from the COVID-19 pandemic. Everyone throughout the country has been impacted in one way or another. From economic uncertainty to school and public safety concerns, adults and children alike have had to learn to deal with a new reality. One impact of COVID-19 that continues to trouble American workers is their employer-sponsored benefits. In particular, with schools, summer camps, and child care facilities closing or altering their

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Brochure: Summit CDH and COBRA Administration

DataPath Summit is the first cloud-based solution purposely designed as a single, all-encompassing platform for administering CDH accounts, COBRA, billing, and well-being benefits. Whether your business plans involve administering just one line of service or all of them, Summit can help you get where you want to grow. With a seamless design, Summit’s flexibility allows TPAs to take advantage of the full suite of solutions, or to choose only those services specific to their business.

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