The Internal Revenue Service (IRS), in coordination with other Federal agencies, published a final ruling which expands Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA) plan types for employers. HRAs are employer-funded benefit plans used by employees to cover qualified healthcare expenses. The newly-created Individual Coverage HRA (ICHRA) and Excepted Benefit HRA (EBHRA) became available on January 1, 2020. … More >>
The importance of COBRA compliance cannot be understated. For employers, COBRA is often the most challenging aspect of offering healthcare benefits. In addition to being time-consuming (and sometimes confusing), failure to comply with COBRA requirements can put companies at risk of serious legal issues and steep financial penalties. What is COBRA? COBRA (Consolidated Omnibus Budget … More >>
Did you know you can take your benefits accounts on-the-go? With the demands of today’s modern society – more than two-thirds of Americans own a mobile phone – many benefits administrators offer account holders the modern conveniences of mobile apps and debit cards. These make it very easy for those who have a Flexible Spending … More >>
Dental care is costly, starting with your premium payments. That coverage may provide you may with a checkup, cleanings, and x-rays once or twice a year. But what happens when you, your spouse, or your child needs a filling, root canal, orthodontia, or an emergency extraction? Insurance probably won’t cover the entire cost of those … More >>
A Dependent Care Assistance Plan (DCAP), also known as a Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account, is a very useful benefit for working parents and those who are caring for other dependents. With a DCAP, you elect up to $5,000 annually (before taxes) to spend on care for dependent children under age 13 or dependents over … More >>
Are you ready for enrollment season? Open enrollment is the period during which you review your benefit options and choose which ones you want to enroll in for next year. These include health insurance, life insurance, and tax-advantaged healthcare benefits accounts, among others. Whether you sign up for benefits through an employer, or choose to … More >>
During benefits enrollment season you may be offered health, dental, and vision insurance. Some companies offer other benefit options like commuter benefit accounts and consumer directed healthcare (CDH) accounts. Depending on your company’s benefit plan, you may be wondering – should I sign up for an FSA? What is an FSA? An FSA, or Flexible … More >>
With a Health Savings Account (HSA), there are certain rules that govern whether or not you can contribute to the account. One requirement is that you must be enrolled in a qualified high deductible healthcare plan (HDHP). As people get older and qualify for Medicare, HSA owners may be wondering how Medicare affects their HSA. … More >>
Health Savings Account (HSA) owners – there may be some advantages to your tax-advantaged healthcare benefit account you aren’t aware of. Most people are familiar with the triple tax savings: tax-free contributions, tax-free earnings, and tax-free withdrawals for qualified healthcare expenses. However, while HSAs are designed primarily to help reduce healthcare costs, some benefits of … More >>
Among the benefits that American workers receive, one of the most important options is COBRA insurance. COBRA allows workers to keep their healthcare coverage in case they experience a qualifying event that may cause them to lose coverage. For more information about COBRA insurance, see the following COBRA FAQs. What is COBRA? Now over three … More >>
Whether you’re new to, or familiar with, Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs), there are some key terms you should know. FSAs are employer-sponsored benefit plans. When the plan is setup, the employer has several spending options to choose from: use it or lose it, grace period, and carryover. In order to max out your tax-free benefit … More >>
Healthcare consumerism, a movement designed to refine the efficiency and affordability of healthcare services, is working to change how people prioritize their personal healthcare. Imagine a system where savvy patients use their knowledge to take a more active role in purchasing and utilizing healthcare services. Healthcare consumerism is getting closer to making this a reality. … More >>
Open enrollment season for benefits is a time for making important decisions regarding healthcare expenses for you and your family. In addition to health insurance options, many companies sponsor tax-advantaged consumer directed healthcare accounts, like Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) or Health Savings Accounts (HSAs). FSAs and HSAs are popular because they can help you save … More >>
Healthcare spending accounts, such as Health Reimbursement Arrangements (HRAs) and Health Savings Accounts (HSAs), help individuals and families pay for medical expenses. They also provide more control over how and where to pay for those expenses. Some employees have the opportunity to have both an HRA and an HSA, either through their own employer or … More >>
Employees who have access to HRAs often have a lot of questions about their benefit accounts regarding funding, eligible expenses, and more. Here’s a list of Health Reimbursement Arrangement FAQs. A Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA) helps employees pay for out-of-pocket medical expenses for themselves and their families. Unlike Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs), though, HRAs are … More >>
During back-to-school time, families engage in the annual rituals of shopping for clothes, school supplies, and other essentials. School-aged children definitely have a lot of needs, and one of them is healthcare. That’s where your employer-sponsored benefits can help! When the kids are in school, remember to use your benefit account (Flexible Spending Account or … More >>
Consumer directed healthcare accounts not only help users save money due to their tax-advantaged status, but also give account holders more control over their healthcare dollars. This article and infographic provide an overview of HSAs, HRAs, and FSAs, along with other helpful information. What are Consumer Directed Healthcare Accounts? A consumer directed healthcare (CDH) account … More >>
Did you know that a change of status during the plan year affects the account holder’s annual Health Savings Account (HSA) contribution limit? The following provides an overview of regulations plus examples of how the changes to contribution limits are calculated. If you have an HSA, you are probably aware that you can change your … More >>
Captain Contributor™ is not your everyday superhero. He’s the basis for a year-round, comprehensive program to educate and engage employees about tax-advantaged benefit plans. Let’s face it. Benefits enrollment can be boring and the information is dense. Many employees have a hard time understanding their benefits and why they should use them. In a recent … More >>
With enrollment season rapidly approaching, it’s a good time to review current attitudes from workers toward their employment-based health benefits. The Health and Voluntary Workplace Benefits Survey (WBS) is conducted annually by the Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI) and Greenwald & Associates. The nationwide study examines a broad spectrum of health care issues, including worker … More >>
You’re familiar with healthcare Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs), with which you can set aside money from your paycheck pre-tax (before payroll taxes are calculated) to use in paying eligible medical expenses. You may not be as familiar, though, with the Limited-Purpose FSA (LPFSA). An LPFSA is an option made available by some employers in conjunction … More >>
Health Reimbursement Arrangements (HRAs) are employer-sponsored benefit plans that reimburse employees for qualified expenses. Unlike other types of employer-sponsored healthcare benefits, an HRA plan is owned and completely funded by the employer. Employee participants do not make contributions or pay taxes on reimbursements received. Generally, there are no limits on employer contributions to regular HRA … More >>
Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) were created to make healthcare more affordable and expand freedom in personal healthcare decisions. They can also play a significant role in saving for retirement. Due to their multiple tax advantages, generous contribution options, and valuable investment opportunities, HSAs can be used to supplement retirement accounts. HSAs and Healthcare First and … More >>
When it comes to FSA vs HRA vs HSA, can you tell the difference? Each has its own distinct purposes. Below is a quick overview, plus a helpful infographic that compares specific features of each type of account. When it comes to consumer driven healthcare (CDH), there are three popular tax-advantaged benefit accounts: the Flexible … More >>
Did you know that HSA owners not only enjoy tax-free interest on their balances, but also tax-free returns from HSA investing? With interest rates at historic lows, consider investing your account funds to achieve substantial growth. Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) are tax-advantaged savings accounts that help people with a high deductible health plan pay for … More >>
