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Many employee benefits are subject to annual dollar limits that are periodically updated for inflation by the IRS. The following commonly offered employee benefits are subject to these limits: High deductible health plans (HDHPs) and health savings accounts (HSAs);Health flexible spending accounts (FSAs);401(k) plans; andTransportation fringe benefit plans. The IRS typically announces the dollar limits…

As the holidays approach and COVID-19 vaccination eligibility expands to younger children, many Americans may be making plans to travel. According to Tripadvisor, 55% of Americans plan to travel this winter, which is a 5% increase from those who traveled last winter. Not surprisingly, the most popular travel dates are the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays.…

HRAs reimburse employees for certain medical costs. Depending on the plan, such expenses may include doctor visits, medical procedures and prescriptions. An employee must be enrolled in their employer’s group health plan to qualify for an HRA. ICHRAs are a bit different. These accounts can reimburse employees for certain medical expenses, insurance premiums or both.…

Ransomware actors shifted to more “mid-game hunting” in the third quarter (Q3) of 2021, resulting in fewer large ransom payments and more lower payments made by middle-market organizations, according to recent data from Coveware, an incident response and ransomware negotiation firm. The average ransom payment amount stayed around the same level between the second quarter…

Health care is rarely straightforward for the average consumer. Many individuals need help making sense of their options both during open enrollment and when receiving health services. In fact, 8 out of 10 people said they faced challenges when receiving care, according to a recent study from Quantum Health. According to the study, the vast…

Each member of a board of directors brings their personal and professional life experiences to the table, making it imperative for a nonprofit to elect a diverse and inclusive group. Since the board strategizes and supervises the organization’s direction, having diverse experience, expertise and perspectives can put the nonprofit in a strong position to promote…

Using preliminary data, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recently revealed its top 10 most frequently cited standards in the 2021 fiscal year. This information is valuable for businesses of all kinds as it helps them identify common exposures that affect their workforce and gives them the information they need to plan their compliance…

Effective Jan. 1, 2022, Social Security recipients will see an increase in their monthly checks. Additionally, the cap on taxable income to help fund Social Security benefits will also be increasing. The cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) will be 5.9% in 2022, affecting nearly 70 million Americans. This is the largest increase to the benefits in nearly…

Recently, President Joe Biden announced sweeping COVID-19 vaccination mandates. Federal employees must now be vaccinated as a condition of employment. And, soon, private employers with 100 or more employees will need to implement the same measure or allow weekly negative COVID-19 testing as substitutes for vaccination. Little is currently known about the upcoming emergency temporary…

According to a PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) report, medical costs are projected to increase 6.5% in 2022. That’s why employers must think strategically but creatively about how they can lower their health benefits expenses. Here are three strategies to help. 1. Control Drug Spending Employers can educate employees on the price differences between name-brand and generic medications.…