
Articles
IRS releases 2013 HSA limits
Monday, May 14, 2012
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has released the HSA limits for the calendar year 2013. Revenue Procedure 2012-26 details the maximum contribution and the deductible and out-of-pocket limits.
Hospitality Industry Risks: Data Privacy and Security
Monday, May 14, 2012
Most hospitality businesses allocate time and capital to efficiently collect and process data in order to improve sales, customer service and loyalty, and operations efficiency. Technological advances have made it easier to manage a wide range of information about customers, vendors, and employees.
Strategies for a Firming Insurance Marketplace
Thursday, May 10, 2012
The insurance marketplace took it on the chin in 2011. Recent estimates peg the total economic loss resulting from last year’s collection of catastrophic events at over $350 billion, the most costly year on record.
Handling Medical Loss Ratio (MLR) Rebates
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
Under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), health insurers are required to disclose the percentage of medical plan premium that is spent on claims and health quality improvement initiatives versus the portion spent on administration, marketing, and insurance company profits.
IRS Issues Proposed Rules on ACA Research Fees for Health Plans
Thursday, April 19, 2012
The IRS has issued proposed rules addressing the comparative effectiveness research fees imposed by the Affordable Care Act (ACA) on health insurance carriers and plan sponsors of self-insured health plans. The IRS is taking comments on the proposed rules for 90 days and is expected to issue final regulations shortly thereafter.
Background
Record Retention for Health and Welfare Benefit Plans
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Like the proverbial "stitch in time", the efficient filing of benefit plan records inevitably saves time, resources, and anguish otherwise spent searching for documents needed at a later date. Moreover, the law penalizes the failure to maintain certain records.
The State of the Surety Industry and You
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
For the most part, with a few notable exceptions, sureties have had a good run over the last few years. It is somewhat counterintuitive that surety results would be so positive during this very challenging economic period, but that can be understood chiefly by two things: surety results historically lag the general economy by 18 months or more and surety underwriters have been relatively disciplined.
Taking Advantage of the Biggest Gift the IRS Ever Gave
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
On December 17th, 2010 the President signed into law the Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Jobs Creation Act of 2010 which contained dramatic, yet temporary, changes to the federal transfer tax system (estate, gift and generation skipping taxes).
Giving Key Employees a Reason to Stay
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
While there are many different ways a business can get started, one of the more common answers we hear goes something like this – “I was working for XYZ Company as a Vice President of something important, but there weren’t enough opportunities for growth. I had some ideas, came into some money and decided to break out on my own.”
DOL and the Treasury Release FAQ Regarding Implementation of SBC Provisions
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
The Departments of Labor (DOL), Health and Human Services (HHS), and the Treasury (the Departments) have released Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) regarding the implementation of the summary of benefits and coverage (SBC) provisions of the Affordable Care Act.
State Exchange Final Regulations Released
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released its final rule on state health insurance exchanges March 12th. The Affordable Care Act (ACA) requires states to be able to demonstrate that they can operate an exchange by January 1, 2013. Under the final rule, HHS may grant conditional approval to states that have made progress toward the implementation of an exchange by January 2013.
State of the Insurance Marketplace
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Wind direction is changing! Property Casualty (P&C) insurance rates are beginning to trend upward. This trend, known as a ‘ firming marketplace,’ began in the fourth quarter of 2011, and it is expected to gain momentum in 2012.
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