ICHRA Archives

Engage Employees to Achieve Cost Savings and Better Health Outcomes

As employers plan their benefits programs for 2025, they face the daunting task of managing costs while ensuring high-quality healthcare options for their workforce. The annual premium average for employer-sponsored family coverage in 2023 was $23,968, with employees contributing an average of 27.4%, or $6,575, according to the KFF Employer Health Benefits Survey. However, access to healthcare is only the first step. Many employees struggle to navigate the complex healthcare system, often seeking medical services

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The Rise of ICHRAs: A New Era in Health Benefit Solutions

With a growing emphasis on flexible, customized, and cost-efficient health benefit solutions, Individual Coverage Health Reimbursement Arrangements, commonly called ICHRAs, are gaining popularity. A new report by the HRA Council found that U.S. employers’ adoption of ICHRAs increased by 29% between 2023 and 2024. The Rise of ICHRAs ICHRAs debuted in 2020 as a significant departure from traditional group health plans. Instead of offering a uniform policy to all employees, these accounts enable companies to

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5 Ways to Control Rising Benefit Costs

Healthcare costs in America have risen significantly since the 1970s, leading many employers to expect modest yearly cost increases in the benefits they offer. However, current economic conditions, an aging population, and increased costs related to managing chronic conditions have led to less manageable increases for many employers. Here are five ways TPAs can help employers continue offering high-value benefits while working to control rising benefits costs. #1 Ask Participants What They Need Before considering

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Small Businesses and Viable Employee Benefits

According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, 99.9% of American businesses are considered small in terms of employment, with fewer than 500 workers on the payroll. While all companies struggle at times with hiring, retaining, and engaging talent, the challenge for small businesses can be greater due to having a comparatively leaner benefits program. However, as more creative benefits enter the marketplace, small businesses may find more viable employee benefit options. Small Businesses Employment Challenges Recent

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What is an HRA?

HRA BasicsWhat is an HRA? Health Reimbursement Arrangements (HRAs) are tax-advantaged arrangements that reimburse individuals for qualified healthcare costs. HRAs were first acknowledged by the IRS in 2002 as benefits that employers could offer current and former employees, including retirees. Legislative and regulatory activity has since modified some of the rules about HRAs and created new types, including Group Benefit HRAs, Individual Coverage HRAs (ICHRAs), Qualified Small Employer HRAs (QSEHRAs), and Excepted Benefit HRAs (EBHRAs).FundingEmployers fund HRAs to reimburse

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What is an ICHRA? 5 Questions Employees Have About ICHRAs

Most healthcare consumers know about Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) and Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs). These popular healthcare benefit accounts allow individuals and families to cover out-of-pocket healthcare costs by setting aside money before taxes are taken out. There are rules about account eligibility, contribution limits, and more. Plus, the funds must be spent on IRS-approved healthcare products. If they spend funds on ineligible items and services, account holders could face taxes or penalties. These accounts

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HRA Plan Types: A Breakdown (Infographic)

Breaking Down HRA Plan Types A Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA) is a tax-advantaged health benefit funded and owned by employers. Depending on the type of HRA, employees can use money from the account to pay for IRS-approved healthcare expenses and health insurance premiums and it does not count toward their taxable income. Learn more about HRA plan types: HRA Plan Types Standard HRA Individual Coverage HRA (ICHRA) Excepted Benefits HRA (EBHRA) Qualified Small Employer HRA

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New Captain Contributor HRA Materials from DataPath: Press Release

DataPath releases new HRA materials for award-winning employee engagement program LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS (September 24, 2019) – DataPath, Inc., a leading developer of technology solutions for employer-sponsored benefits, announced today that it has released new materials for its award-winning The Adventures of Captain Contributor™ education and engagement program. Focused on Health Reimbursement Arrangements (HRAs), these new materials include a comic book, video, and fact sheets. In the new comic book and video, benefits superheroes Captain

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IRS and Other Agencies to Create New HRA Types

The Internal Revenue Services (IRS) issued a final rule to create two new types of Health Reimbursement Arrangements (HRAs). The newly created Individual Coverage HRA (ICHRA) and the Excepted Benefit HRA will go into effect on January 1, 2020.

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