Policy Momentum Is Building Around Consumer-Driven Benefits
If you keep an eye on the regulatory side of employee benefits, 2026 has been a busy year already. A few things are happening in Washington right now that could have real implications for how employers structure their health plans and how brokers advise their clients. Here is a quick rundown of what we are...
What Employers Should Review After Q1 As the first quarter wraps up, many employers shift their attention from year-end reporting to day-to-day operations. However, April is one of the most important months of the year to pause and review your benefits compliance strategy. With tax deadlines still fresh and enrollment activity behind you, now is…
Understanding what qualifies as an eligible expense under your Flexible Spending Account (FSA) or Health Savings Account (HSA) shouldn’t feel complicated. That’s why Ameriflex created the Eligibility List, a clear, easy-to-use resource designed to help participants confidently spend their tax-advantaged healthcare dollars. If you’ve ever wondered whether an item, service, or prescription is eligible for…
Every few months, a new “solution” emerges in the benefits space. Some promise to simplify substantiation. Others claim to make “everything eligible.” And lately, I’ve seen an uptick in companies offering to fast-track Letters of Medical Necessity (LMNs) for items that may otherwise be ineligible under IRS rules. On the surface, these services appear to…
What is the Transportation Benefits Program Act? The State of Illinois recently passed the “Transportation Benefits Program Act” that will go into effect January 1, 2024, and require employers with 50 or more employees located in specific areas to offer a pre-tax commuter benefit to “covered employees.” Employees who take advantage of the benefit can…
President Biden has announced that both the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency and the related National Emergency, ongoing since March 2020, came to an end on May 11, 2023. As a result, the corresponding Outbreak Period will end 60 days later on July 11, 2023. Impact on our COBRA and Consumer-Driven Healthplan (CDH) clients COBRA: During…
The IRS has announced the 2023 contribution limits for flexible spending accounts (FSA), commuter benefits, and more. Here’s a look at what’s changing. Health FSA: $3,050 (Increased from $2,850). This also applies to limited-purpose FSAs. FSA Carryover: $610 (Increased from $570). Commuter (Parking and Transit): $300 per month (Increased from $280). Dependent Care: The annual limits will remain $5,000 for single taxpayers…
On June 24, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld Mississippi’s restrictions on abortion in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization (“Dobbs”). The decision overturns the Roe v. Wade (1973) and Planned Parenthood v. Casey (1992) decisions that pre-empted state restrictions on abortion. In light of the Dobbs ruling, some employers have announced plans to revise their…
Philadelphia will soon be the next major U.S. city to adopt a commuter benefits mandate for eligible employers. On June 9, 2022, the Philadelphia City Council passed an ordinance that will require certain employers to offer a pre-tax commuter benefits program to their employees. The Philadelphia mayor is expected to sign the bill soon. Key…
When it comes to tax-advantaged spending accounts, the eligibility rules can be a source of confusion for employees. If an employer offers an HSA-qualified high-deductible health plan (HDHP), employees should review their health coverage to understand how it impacts their HSA eligibility. Here’s a common question that comes up during open enrollment about HSA eligibility. …
With the end of the year quickly approaching, we want to provide an update regarding pandemic-related relief provisions for flexible spending accounts (FSA) and dependent care accounts (DCA). Several pieces of legislation were signed into law over the past 18 months to help American families manage healthcare costs during the pandemic. This temporarily included: Raising…