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EMPLOYER HEALTH PLANS & COVID-19
Up-to-date information for brokers and employers
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As the Coronavirus situation continues to unfold, we're committed to helping you understand how the latest local, state, and federal regulations impact how employers run their business.
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In addition to existing compliance obligations, these changes may require employer health plans to provide services related to COVID-19 free of charge, or some other unique requirement. While we can't predict the future, and this page isn't all-inclusive of every change in process, we want you to know: we're here to help.
Sarah Borders
Apr 10, 20230 min read
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Sarah Borders
Feb 13, 20230 min read
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Sarah Borders
Mar 1, 20220 min read
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OTC Covid Test Coverage: What are the exceptions?
On Jan 10, 2022, the DOL issued FAQ guidance requiring ALL health plans and issuers (fully-insured or self-insured) to reimburse or...
Sarah Borders
Jan 17, 20222 min read
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Sarah Borders
Dec 23, 20210 min read
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Sarah Borders
Nov 5, 20210 min read
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Sarah Borders
Oct 18, 20210 min read
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Sarah Borders
Oct 8, 20210 min read
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Sarah Borders
Sep 16, 20210 min read
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Sarah Borders
Sep 8, 20210 min read
27 views
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Sarah Borders
Aug 15, 20210 min read
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Sarah Borders
Jul 30, 20210 min read
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How do employers get their ARPA tax credit?
You busted your hump figuring out how to deal with ARPA - don’t forget the most important part. In today’s video, I provide a detailed...
Sarah Borders
Jul 22, 20211 min read
38 views
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Can an employer pay an employee to get the vaccine?
How can employers make sure their workforce is vaccinated? It's been a hot topic for months now. With the EEOC's recent guidance on...
Sarah Borders
Jun 3, 20211 min read
22 views
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Finally! IRS issues critical clarifications on many outstanding ARPA questions
Just last week, IRS issued notice 2021-31, which provided many key clarifications on the ARPA subsidies. There's far too many to cover on...
Sarah Borders
May 25, 20211 min read
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IRS issues new key clarifications on ARPA FAQs (part 2)
In today's video, I continue coverage of a key notice recently issued by the IRS: IRS notice 2021-31, which covers many FAQs that were...
Sarah Borders
May 20, 20211 min read
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ARPA tax credits available for voluntary paid leave
On April 29, 2021, the IRS issued guidance that gives clarifying information regarding employer tax credits available for voluntary paid...
Sarah Borders
Apr 29, 20211 min read
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ARPA subsidies and termination "for cause"
It's well understood that the ARPA subsidy applies to people eligible for COBRA who were involuntarily terminated or had a reduction in...
Sarah Borders
Apr 22, 20211 min read
19 views
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Tax-Free PPE?
The IRS recently issued Announcement 2021-7 called which allows amounts paid for personal protective equipment (PPE) such as masks, hand...
Sarah Borders
Apr 2, 20211 min read
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DOL releases ARPA COBRA subsidy model notices & FAQs
ARPA generated just as many questions as it did provide answers - and that's being generous. Luckily, the DOL recently released a set...
Sarah Borders
Mar 30, 20211 min read
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Does ARPA apply for state continuation?
Although state continuation isn’t technically COBRA, ARPA clearly talks about several non-COBRA situations where the subsidy applies. In...
Sarah Borders
Mar 25, 20211 min read
51 views
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ARPA & Dependent Care FSA impacts
In this follow-up to our recent video on the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, we cover another very important piece of the legislation...
Sarah Borders
Mar 18, 20211 min read
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ARPA: A 100% COBRA subsidy?!?
On March 11, 2021, the President signed into law the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) H.R.1319. Under the latest stimulus legislation,...
Sarah Borders
Mar 18, 20212 min read
38 views
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Long-Awaited COBRA & HIPAA Outbreak Period Guidance Released
On Friday, February 26th, the DOL released Disaster Relief Notice 2021-01, providing some long-awaited guidance on how the COBRA & HIPAA...
Sarah Borders
Feb 27, 20211 min read
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FSA changes are coming!
In the latest COVID stimulus bill, signed into law by President Trump on December 27th, 2020, there are a several sections that focus on...
Sarah Borders
Dec 28, 20201 min read
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COBRA Subsidy Termination = New Special Enrollment Rights?
Recently, the HHS came out with its 2022 benefit and proposed payment regulations. One of the most interesting items in the report is a...
Sarah Borders
Dec 20, 20201 min read
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Sarah Borders
Nov 9, 20200 min read
8 views
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Sarah Borders
Oct 11, 20200 min read
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ACA Penalties Increased for 2021
Recently the IRS updated its ACA webpage and FAQs reflecting the indexed changes to the 2021 ACA penalties that could apply to applicable...
Sarah Borders
Aug 31, 20201 min read
26 views
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Sarah Borders
Aug 11, 20200 min read
8 views
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FAQs on mid-year election changes
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the IRS recently issued guidance relaxing election changes for health plans offered under a Section...
Sarah Borders
May 31, 20203 min read
41 views
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Important clarifications from the HHS, DOL on communicating health plan changes to employees
On 4/11/20, the HHS, DOL, and Treasury provided some greatly needed clarifications on the recent laws passed by Congress related to the...
Sarah Borders
Apr 14, 20201 min read
6 views
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HDHPs and COVID-19 treatments/screenings
As a reminder, in order for an individual to establish and contribute to an HSA, they must be enrolled in a qualified HDHP and cannot...
Sarah Borders
Apr 7, 20201 min read
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Coverage for Small-Group Health Plans for Coronavirus
On March12th, CMS released FAQs related to federal rules governing health insurance coverage for coronavirus. Diagnosis and treatments of...
Sarah Borders
Apr 7, 20202 min read
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COVID-19 Coverage for Self-Insured and Fully-Insured Plans in Specific States
The federal emergency legislation, if passed by the Senate and signed by President Trump, would require COVID-19 testing benefits to be...
Sarah Borders
Apr 7, 20201 min read
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Emergency bill for Coronavirus coverage being sent to Senate
You can count on BCS to continue to provide you the latest updates so you can keep up with the fast-moving changes to employer sponsored...
Sarah Borders
Mar 15, 20201 min read
4 views
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Return to this page regularly - we'll keep it updated as we learn more
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