This blog was published on April 3, 2020 International's Foundation of Employee Benefits Plans Blog, written by Robbie Hartman, CEBS. Photo source: blog.ifebp.org. In rapid time, the coronavirus has upended the benefit industry’s way of work. Most offices stand empty or operate with a skeleton crew, as employees and plan participants keep their distance and work [...]
The Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) signed into law on March 18th included two temporary expanded paid leave options that are mandatory for employers with fewer than 500 employees. Additionally, there are tax credits available for employers that have paid employees with one of these two emergency leave provisions (outlined below). The chart below [...]
If Florida House Bill HB59 becomes law, Floridians will be able to use video conferencing technology to speak with a pharmacist and obtain prescription drugs dispensed by automated pharmacy systems or vending machines. The systems, manufactured by Canadian company MedAvail, are currently in use in hospitals located in Jacksonville and Miami, Florida. [...]
The Department of Labor recently published The Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) employee’s notification poster. According to the Department of Labor, each covered employer (i.e., employers with fewer than 500 employees) must post the FFCRA Notice Poster in a conspicuous place on its premises. Covered employers may satisfy this requirement by emailing or direct mailing [...]
To Our Valued Clients: We recognize that there is plenty of uncertainty right now unfolding around the situation we find ourselves in with the introduction of COVID-19. At Diversified, our aim is to add some clarity surrounding your medical plan by reviewing the trending topics of the calls coming into our member services department. Question #2: Who [...]
This article was published on March 25, 2020 BenefitsPro.com, written by Katie Kuehner-Hebert. Photo source BenefitsPro.com. Covered California's actuarial/policy brief recommends that Congress consider three actions now to mitigate impact. Congress needs to mitigate what could be substantial cost increases for both insurers and their members due to the COVID-19 pandemic, warns Covered California, the [...]
In light of the nation's response to COVID-19 and the resultant economic downturn, employers of all sizes face a dilemma of evaluating employee head counts. Many employers are considering furloughs or temporary layoffs to reduce immediate payroll, hoping the downturn lasts for a period of a few weeks instead of months. Below is a list [...]
According to a new Harris pole conducted for TD Ameritrade, more than half of Americans age 40 and older plan to continue working after they retire. The Federal Reserve Bank of New York adds that the number of workers 55 and older has been rising since 2000. While the percentages dropped for older workers, [...]
This article was published on March 21, 2020 in MyHealthGuide, written by Hobson D. Carroll, FSA, MAAA, President, MedRisk Actuarial Services, Inc. After the President signed the Families First Coronavirus Response Act wherein testing for the virus may not attract any element of cost-sharing (think: preventive care), there has begun an additional new drum roll [...]
