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Blog Posts:
Must Our Plan Offer COBRA Coverage to Spouses and Dependents Whose Coverage Was Dropped at Open Enrollment?
QUESTION: When employees drop coverage for dependents or spouses under our company’s group health plan during open enrollment, our practice has been to provide the dropped individuals with COBRA election materials. However, our new COBRA TPA says this is not...
May Terminating Employees Elect COBRA Coverage for Domestic Partners?
QUESTION: Our company will soon begin offering coverage under our group health plan to employees’ domestic partners. What rights do domestic partners have under COBRA? May terminating employees elect to continue coverage for their domestic partners?...
IRS Announces 2024 Standard Mileage Rates and Maximum Vehicle Values
The IRS has announced the optional 2024 standard mileage rates for business, medical, and other uses of an automobile, and the 2024 vehicle values that limit the application of certain rules for valuing an automobile’s use. For 2024, the business standard mileage rate...
Are Any Group Health Plans Exempt From the Federal Mental Health Parity?
QUESTION: We are wondering if our company’s medical plan might qualify for an exemption from the federal mental health parity requirements. What exemptions are available? ANSWER: The federal mental health parity requirements apply to most employer-sponsored...
Is the HSA Contribution Limit an Annual or Monthly Limit?
QUESTION: How does the general contribution limit for HSAs work? It is often stated as an annual limit, but isn’t it really monthly? Our company is thinking about changing to HDHP coverage that would allow our employees to make HSA contributions. If we decide to...
Agency RFI Focuses on No-Cost Coverage of OTC Preventive Products Without a Prescription
A DOL, HHS, and IRS request for information (RFI) is seeking input about how the preventive health services mandate applies to over-the-counter (OTC) preventive items and services, including the potential benefits and costs of requiring plans and insurers to cover...
2024 FSA Limit Increases: What To Know
The IRS announced 2024 contribution limits for all Flexible Spending Account (FSA) plans. Below is an overview of the limit increases across all the types of FSAs except for Dependent Care FSAs, which remain the same at $5,000 per year. Health Flexible Spending...
When Is a Qualified Beneficiary Considered “Entitled to Medicare” for Purposes of Terminating COBRA Coverage Early?
QUESTION: We understand that our group health plan can terminate COBRA coverage early if a qualified beneficiary becomes entitled to Medicare after electing COBRA. What does it mean to be “entitled” to Medicare? ANSWER: When qualified beneficiaries...
Is Medicare Entitlement a COBRA Qualifying Event for Active Employees Who Do Not Lose Group Health Plan Coverage When They Become Entitled to Medicare?
QUESTION: Although Medicare entitlement is listed as a COBRA triggering event, our company’s COBRA TPA does not offer COBRA to covered employees when they become entitled to Medicare. Is Medicare entitlement a COBRA qualifying event for active employees who...
How Should We Communicate Changes to Our Company’s ERISA Group Health Plan?
QUESTION: At the beginning of the year, we distributed new SPDs to participants in our company’s ERISA-covered group health plan. We are planning to make some changes to the plan’s terms. When and how do we need to communicate these changes to participants?...
Events:
NueSynergy’s Director of Central Sales will be in St. Louis September 15-16
Following last month’s visit to Nashville, NueSynergy is back on the road for another sales...
NueSynergy’s Director of Central and Southeast Sales will be in Nashville August 18-19
After two months off, NueSynergy is back on the road for another sales trip. From August 18-19,...
NueSynergy’s Director of Central Sales will be in Colorado June 13-14
NueSynergy is nearing its third sales trip of the month....
NueSynergy’s Director of Southeast Sales will be in Birmingham on June 9
NueSynergy's second sales trip of the month is coming up. On June 9 only, John Kirchmeyer,...
NueSynergy’s Director of Southeast Sales will be in Virginia Beach June 5-7
NueSynergy is off to another exciting sales trip next month. From June 5-7, John Kirchmeyer,...
NueSynergy’s Director of Central and Southeast Sales will be in Austin May 23-25
NueSynergy is making its second sales trip of the month next week. From May 23-25, Director of...
NueSynergy’s Director of Southeast Sales will be in Savannah May 17-19
NueSynergy is making its third sales trip of the year next week. From May 17-19, John...
A member of NueSynergy’s sales team will be in Fort Worth April 26-29
NueSynergy is set to kick off its second trip of the calendar year next week. From April 26-29,...
