By Scott Lyon, Senior Vice PresidentIs your company part of a control group? Knowing the answer to this question is important in determining the number of employees for the Affordable Care Act and its impact …
An employer will not be treated as having 50 full time employees if: The employer's workforce exceeds 50 full-time employees for 120 days or less during the calendar year, andThe employees in excess of 50 …
What you need to know about Flexible Spending Account contribution limits, itemized deductions, the Medicare tax rate increase and newly required Summary of Benefits and Coverage.Flexible Spending Account (FSA) ContributionIn 2013, Section 125 flexible spending …
By Scott Lyon, Senior Vice PresidentStatus: The Michigan Legislature failed in its effort to establish a State-Based Exchange for Michigan, leaving just two options:State Federal Partnership ExchangeFederally Facilitated ExchangeGov. Snyder has now pointed his staff …
As 2012 is quickly coming to an end, it is a good time for employers and plan sponsors to take note of the numerous requirements under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act ("PPACA"). Below …
Earlier this morning Governor Snyder and Blue Cross Blue Shield Michigan announced an agreement that would transition BCBSM to a non-profit mutual insurance company. The governor and BCBSM expect the transition to be completed prior …
A mostly overlooked bulletin sent out in May from the Treasury Department, included a surprise in what otherwise might have been a routine announcement on further implementation of the Patient Protection and Affordable care Act. …
As mentioned in yesterday’s Agent Alert, earlier today there was a joint committee hearing of the House Health Policy Committee and the House Appropriations Subcommittee on the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA). The …
Many of you have called with questions regarding the Family and Medical Leave Act. Recently the Department of Labor, Wage and Hourly Division released a guide to the law. While it is written to the …
Over the last several weeks, we have had many questions from agents and members regarding the status of a health exchange for Michigan. Provided below is a timeline for the Exchange, as well as definitions …
There has been some recent confusion as to the difference between a Summary of Benefits and Coverage (SBC) and a Summary Plan Description (SPD). Both are required by law and relate to a company's group health insurance …
by Ben Cohen, Practice Leader – Health and Welfare BenefitsKushner & Company The IRS recently issued Notice 2012-40 to clarify how the upcoming cap on employee salary deferrals to a health FSA will work. The guidance is very welcome, and …
In the 1940's, the National Association of Health Underwriters (NAHU) began a program to recognize top producers and leaders in the insurance industry. The Leading Producers' Round Table (LPRT) was expanded in 2011 to include …
The federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act requires that health insurance carriers annually report Medical Loss Ratio.In order to do so for 2012, BCBSM and BCN must know the average number of employees that …
In case you missed it, late last week the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) released a new cost estimate for the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA). During the debate in Congress, which was just …
While it doesn’t sound like a lot of time, the Supreme Court will hear six hours of oral argument over three days regarding the Constitutionality of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (AC). The …
Just this past week, after almost a year of delays, the Final Rules for the Summary of Benefit Coverage were released. As you may recall, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act’s (PPACA) required that …
Michigan Enacts Health Care Claims Tax Article provided by Clark Hill PLC On September 20, 2011, Michigan Governor Rick Snyder signed into law the Health Insurance Claims Assessment (HICA) Act, which establishes a 1% tax on certain paid health care …
