On March 11, 2021, President Joe Biden signed into law the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA). The legislation goes into effect April 1, 2021 and contains provisions for a COBRA subsidy and an increase to the annual dependent […]
Health Care Reform Updates
The Ban on Surprise Medical Bills Will Take Effect in 2022 On Dec. 27, 2020, President Donald Trump signed the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 into law, a $900 billion stimulus bill that includes emergency economic relief, government funding and tax cuts. […]
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) affordability of employer-sponsored health coverage will decline to 9.78% of an employee’s household income for the 2020 plan year
Affordability Standards Under the ACA, employer-sponsored minimum essential coverage (MEC) is affordable if an employee’s required contribution for the lowest-cost, self-only option with minimum value does not exceed an annually indexed percentage of the employee’s household income. Employees and their […]
Voluntary Benefits are Critical to Recruit Truckers
As trucking industry employers scramble to make up a huge and growing shortfall in drivers, they’re finding that the solution involves more than richer wages and signing bonuses. Voluntary benefits, customized to drivers’ unique needs and also extended to contract […]
2020 Furnishing Deadline Delayed and Additional Transition Relief Granted
The IRS has delayed the deadlines by which employers must furnish 2020 Forms 1095-C and 1095-B in early 2021. For 2020, the furnishing deadline was Feb. 1, 2021, Since Jan. 31, 2021, is a Sunday. The IRS has provided an additional […]
2020 ACA Reporting Forms and Employer Mandate Penalties for 2021
IRS updated 2020 ACA Reporting Forms An applicable large employer with more than 50 full-time and full-time equivalent employees in the prior year is required to report to IRS on the coverage they offer on Forms 1094-C and 1095-C. This […]
Great news! We have extended rates holds through the end of 2020 for some of your clients. See details below to determine which of your clients may qualify. If you have any questions, please contact your Account Manager. Groups with […]
Premium Relief Payments for Fully Insured Groups
Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield and Health Advantage are voluntarily extending our efforts to provide relief to fully insured group health plans in response to the economic pressures and healthcare utilization changes that have resulted from the COVID-19 public […]
QualChoice Telehealth Services
QualChoice has partnered with Teladoc to give our members easy round-the-clock access to in-network providers for non-emergency health issues. The service is expected to launch in early August. Members will soon be able to visit QualChoice.com to learn more and […]
PCORI Fees Due July 31, 2020
Fees Apply to Employers Sponsoring Self-insured Plans The IRS issued Notice 2020-44 on June 8 to adjust the fee paid by insurers or self-insured health plan sponsors to fund the federal Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) trust fund. The fee […]
