House members challenge DOL fiduciary efforts
Republican House members are challenging the DOLs efforts to require retirement advisers to follow a fiduciary standard, saying it reduces access to options and conflicts with the Dodd-Frank Act.
Compliance
Benefits Think ACA reporting: No rest for the weary HR technologist
Commentary: HR professionals must band together to share how we are handling our ACA reporting responsibilities and to pressure our vendor suppliers for better solutions and continued innovation, says Lockton's Matthew Kaiser.
As SCOTUS hears King v. Burwell, predictions on its outcome
With the Supreme Court set to hear King v. Burwell today, subsidies in the federal health care exchange could be eliminated for millions of enrollees. Leading up to this, Employee Benefit Adviser and Employee Benefit News have covered the story from all angles. Here is a roundup of our coverage in the case.
Benefits Think Preparing your clients for the ACAs first tax season
Commentary: As independent health insurance agents, you can help your clients understand how taxes and health insurance intersect, building your credibility as a knowledgeable agent in the process. These guidelines will help you prepare your clients for a smooth tax season.
Benefits Think Intermittent leave: What you need to know about certifications
Commentary: Theres a lot for your clients to consider when carefully managing intermittent leaves. The Standard's Lincoln Dirks goes in-depth on the paperwork that outlines the parameters for an absence certifications and recertifications.
Lincoln Dirks
Standard Insurance Company
Benefits Think ACA compliance: February settled the familys business
Commentary: Last month reminded blogger David C. Smith of the last 10 minutes of The Godfather and The Godfather Part II. In the last four weeks, Treasury, Labor and Health and Human Services settled their business in a concerted effort to make clear what would be permitted or prohibited when it came to compliance with the law.
David C. Smith
Ebenconcepts
Benefits Think Have your clients considered these two little-known ways to help manage intermittent leaves?
Commentary: With the use of intermittent leave, a type of Family and Medical Leave Act job protection, on the rise, The Standard's Lincoln Dirks says this type of leave potentially may become a growing burden for your clients.
Lincoln Dirks
Standard Insurance Company
What happens if ACA subsides are ruled illegal?
The Supreme Court on Wednesday will hear the case of King v. Burwell, with the legality of federal subsidies for ACA exchange enrollment hanging in the balance. If the high court rules that subsides on the federal health care exchange are illegal, consumers would on average see premiums rise 255% but industry analysts say it is unlikely to get to that point.
HHS issues final rule closing ACA minimum value health plan loophole
HHS has issued a final rule saying it will not qualify employer-sponsored health plans that fail to cover inpatient hospitalization as meeting the minimum value health plan standard under the ACA.
Healthcare.gov CEO grilled in Congressional hearing, warned he is damaging debate on ACA
In a Congressional committee hearing Thursday, Kevin Counihan, the CEO of Healthcare.gov, was repeatedly grilled by members of Congress for details on enrollments, tax data and coverage for immigrants, but failed to provide answers to many questions asked.
Medical premium reimbursement: Limited relief for some employers
Back in November, the DOL issued FAQ Part 22, which directly addresses some recent efforts by employers to reimburse employees for participation in the exchange through Code Section 105, or through some type of other arrangement.
Edison decision could be slippery slope for plan fiduciaries
No matter how the U.S. Supreme Court rules in Tibble v. Edison International, one thing is clear: employers will need to be more vigilant about the investments they choose for their company-sponsored 401(k) plans in the future to avoid litigation.
IRS wont penalize those who received wrong tax info from FFM
The Internal Revenue Service will not try to collect additional taxes from those taxpayers who have already filed their taxes after receiving incorrect information from the federal health insurance marketplace, Healthcare.gov.
Employers remain unprepared for ACA requirements
As more regulations continue to come into effect for employers under the Affordable Care Act, some with financial penalties, many employers report they are not prepared to deal with the slate of changes.
IRS offers guidance on ACA tax on cadillac health plans
The Internal Revenue Service has issued guidance on the potential approaches it may take in the future on proposed regulations for the excise tax on high-cost employer-sponsored health coverage in the Affordable Care Act.
Majority of employers offer some sort of PTO; decline seen for caregiving
As the discussion on paid leave continues, a majority of employers say they are already offering some sort of personal time off … but declines have been noted in paid time for caregivers.
Obama administration seeks industry input on Cadillac Tax
The IRS and Dept. of Treasury are seeking comments on several issues related to the Cadillac tax, including what constitutes employer-sponsored coverage and different approaches for determining the cost of applicable coverage.
Brokers condemn Obama attack on retirement advisers
With the support of the White House, the DOL today submitted to OMB its revised fiduciary rule proposal for retirement brokers, a move industry stakeholders are calling an attack on retirement advisers.
Obama to support tougher rules on retirement brokers
The plan would require brokers to act in a customers best interest, a change that could limit the earnings of financial advisers.
Premium reimbursement relief with a catch
The IRS addresses questions on employer payment plans and providing limited transitional relief for small employers who are currently reimbursing employees for individual health insurance premiums.