To prepare for open enrollment, group health plan sponsors should be aware of the legal changes affecting the design and administration of their plans for plan years beginning on or after Jan. 1, 2020. Employers should review their plan documents to confirm that they include these required changes and communicate plan changes and notices through an updated summary plan description (SPD) or a summary of material modifications (SMM).
On July 23, 2019, the IRS issued Revenue Procedure 2019-29 to index the contribution percentages in 2020 for determining affordability of an employer’s plan under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). For plan years beginning in 2020, employer-sponsored coverage will be considered affordable if the employee’s required contribution for self-only coverage does not exceed a specific percentage.
On July 22, 2019, the Department of Labor (DOL) issued an opinion letter—FLSA2019-10—to address whether the time a truck driver spends in a sleeper berth is compensable under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).
Articles Include:
• 1 in 5 Deaths Worldwide Associated with Poor Diets
• Your Heart Rate: Indicator for Health and Fitness
• Introducing Foods Early May Help Prevent Allergies
• Recipe: Fruit Slush
Topics Include:
• Executive Order on Health Costs to Affect Employer Health Plans
• Final Rule Expands Options for HRAs
Topics Include:
• Why You Should Be Encouraging Employees to Use PTO
• EEO Deadlines Approaching, Here’s Where You Can Find Help
On July 17, 2019, the IRS released notice 2019-45 to add care for a range of chronic conditions to the list of preventive care benefits that can be provided by a high deductible health plan (HDHP) without a deductible.
Colorado has joined 12 other states in banning private employers from asking job applicants about their criminal histories. Effective Sept. 1, 2019, the Colorado Chance to Compete Act prohibits private employers with 11 or more employees from stating those with a criminal history may not apply for a job and asking about criminal history on an application. These same prohibitions will apply to all private employers in Colorado effective Sept. 1, 2021.