Articles, News and Information
New Rules and Penalties for Cash “In Lieu” of Benefits
IRS Notice 2015-17: New Guidance for Employer Premium Reimbursement In the past, many employers have helped employees pay for individual health insurance policies (i.e. through “Employer Payment Plans”) in the offering an employer-sponsored plan. In recent months, the Department of Labor (DOL), Health and Human Services (HHS), and Treasury Departments have released several pieces of…
DOL Revised FMLA Definition of “Spouse”: February 25, 2015
The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) entitles eligible employees of covered employees of covered Employers to take unpaid, job-protected leave for specified family and medical reasons. The FMLA also includes certain military family leave provisions. On February 25, 2015, the U.S. Department of Labor revised Family Medical Leave Act definition of a “spouse.” The…
Section 125: Who CANNOT Participate in a Cafeteria Plan, FSA, or HRA
We often receive the question of “Who can and cannot participate in a Section 125 Cafeteria Plan, Flexible Spending Account (FSA), or HRA?” From time to time, we find clients who are participating in tax-favored benefits who should not, as they are not eligible, or they do not have a plan document in place. Of…
Section 125: Advantages for the Employer AND Employee
Section 125 Cafeteria Plan A Section 125 cafeteria plan is an employee benefits program designed to take advantage of the pre-taxed savings through the Section 125 of the Internal Revenue Code. The cafeteria plan allows employees to pay certain qualified expenses, such as health insurance premiums, on a pretax basis, and therefore reducing their taxable income and…
CA Waiting Period Update & Federal Changes on the Horizon: August 20, 2014
August 15, 2014 California Governor Jerry Brown signed into law legislation SB 1034 to better align California’s health coverage waiting period requirements with federal law. The intent of the bill is to resolve confusion between California and Federal law and to better conform to the waiting period provisions of the Affordable Care Act. While the ACA…
“To Grandmother or Not to Grandmother…That is the Question!”
Now that SB 1446, “Grandmothering” bill has been signed, it allows small employers (50 or fewer employees) with non-grandfathered health insurance policies in effect as of December 31, 2013, the option to renew their existing coverage for one year, rather than be required to move to 2014 ACA compliant plans. Did you know that…
