Articles
DOL Issues New Rules for Association Health Plans
Wednesday, June 20, 2018
The Department of Labor (DOL) has released final Association Health Plan (AHP) rules. The rules are designed to make it easier for small employers and individuals to join together to offer or purchase health insurance as a large group.
Five Strategies to Win the Battle for Top Talent in the Tech Industry
Tuesday, June 19, 2018
The battle for technology talent in the Pacific Northwest is fierce and, as important as it is to recruit, it is equally if not more important to retain employees. SHRM reports replacing an employee can cost anywhere between six to nine months of their annual salary.
2019 “Affordability” Percentage
Monday, June 18, 2018
In Revenue Procedure 2018-34, the IRS increased the affordability percentage from 9.56% to 9.86% for 2019. This percentage determines which applicable large employers may face penalties under §4980H(b) for failure to offer affordable coverage, and which individuals may qualify for subsidized coverage through a public Exchange.
How to Prevent Reverse Discrimination with Disability Benefits
Tuesday, June 12, 2018
Employers are always looking for ways to enhance benefit plans and reduce risk. Combining group long term disability (LTD) and individual disability insurance can result in a more comprehensive disability program that maximizes protection for the employer and employees.
Manufacturers Need to “Millennial Up!”
Wednesday, June 6, 2018
We have all heard the term, “Millennial.” Many of us think of a twenty-something, video gaming, non-starter who is still living in mom and dad’s basement. As a Generation X’er, I have often wondered, are we so different?
Choosing an Employee Benefits Consultant for Your Small Business
Monday, June 4, 2018
Every day, businesses look at where their strengths lie and decide which areas of expertise should be hired in house, or outsourced to a third party. The result of those decisions boils down to where their resources are best spent.
Attracting Top Talent in a Competitive Market
Wednesday, May 30, 2018
Times are good! The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the current ratio of unemployed Americans to open jobs is 1.1 to one, contrasted to 6.6 to one during the recession in 2009. It is no surprise to anyone in the Northwest looking to hire qualified people.
HSA Requirements for 2019
Thursday, May 24, 2018
Last week the IRS released the 2019 health savings account (HSA) annual contribution limits, as well as the corresponding high deductible health plan (HDHP) minimum deductible and maximum out-of-pocket (OOP) requirements.
REMINDER: PCORI Fees Due July 31
Wednesday, May 23, 2018
Employers who sponsored self-funded medical plans ending sometime during 2017 must report and pay the ACA Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) fees no later than July 31, 2018. Health insurance carriers will pay the fee directly in the case of fully-insured plans.
A Conversation With Karen Wren on the Current State of Employee Benefits
Tuesday, May 22, 2018
When you meet someone in your field who causes you to reconsider your thoughts in an entirely new way, you take note. I had just that experience at the National Employer Summit held in Seattle in March of 2018, where I had the chance to hear and meet Karen Wren.
How Can the U.S. Food Industry Protect Itself From China’s New Tariffs?
Monday, May 21, 2018
There has been a great deal of anticipation to see what materials and products will be added to the contentious U.S. tariff list, many Northwest organizations, from manufacturing to food processors, are calculating the potential impact on their business.
#UsToo: Sexual Harassment in Healthcare
Thursday, May 10, 2018
We’ve had an outpouring of media attention on the issue of sexual misconduct in the workplace. The world has heard actors, models, congresswomen, as well as business women come forward to say, “Me too”, but what about those individuals in the healthcare industry?
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