USI is proud to support the efforts of our partner, BronxWorks, on the valuable activities and support they provide to the community-at-large. Please take a moment to visit http://www.coorslideres.com/Home.aspx, the Coors Light Lideres contest, and vote for Yinia Ramirez. She is the director of BronxWorks’ Navigator Health Insurance Assistance and Community Health Advocates programs. Vote now and…
An excepted benefit is not required to meet certain Affordable Care Act requirements, including: Coverage of dependents to age 26 Coverage of dependent students Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act Women’s Health and Cancer Rights Act Newborns and Mothers Health Protection Act Patient Protections, Preventive Health Services, and Clinical Trials So when does a…
Affordable Care Act regulations and other government rules have many employers wondering whether it would be more cost effective and prudent to outsource employee benefits administration. More than half of mid-sized and large companies believe health care reform will increase the complexity of employee benefits administration, according to a survey by the ADP Research Institute.…
If you’re interested in offering a disability plan to your employees, but aren’t sure whether to choose a short- or long-term plan, consider these additional facts: Short-term The short-term plan is the most popular. According to the United States Department of Labor, 93 percent of private industry workers are covered by a short-term plan —…
The majority of workers in this country have employer-sponsored health insurance, but only 30 percent of American workers in private industry have employer-sponsored disability insurance, according to a recent survey conducted by the U.S. Department of Labor. Disability insurance can replace a portion of pre-disability income if an employee is unable to work. The benefits…
This month USI Insurance Services celebrates “USI Gives Back,” a celebration of the volunteer spirit shared by the thousands of employees nationwide giving back to the communities where they live and work. USI Northeast’s Iman Thomas shares her heartwarming story about volunteering at an orphanage in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic. Read her firsthand account of the…
Employers often look to high-deductible health plans (HDHPs) as an option for lowering health insurance premiums for their employees. On the upside, these plans offer lower premiums; on the downside, they present higher deductibles than traditional health insurance plans. However, an HDHP combined with a tax-advantaged Health Savings Account (HSA) can be an effective way…
Under the Affordable Care Act, an employer must offer coverage to a Full-Time Employee (“FTE”). A FTE is an employee that works, on average, 30+ hours per week or 130+ hours per month. An employer determines an employee’s FTE status by analyzing the hours worked using a measurement method – the look-back measurement method or…
By promising to extend health insurance coverage to all Americans, the Affordable Care Act has eliminated employers’ need to offer COBRA continuation coverage. Or has it? The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) did not eliminate COBRA or change the COBRA rules. In fact, the notice health plans subject to COBRA must provide to…
Nearly two-thirds of workers who go to the gym for fitness and weight-loss classes say their employer-sponsored wellness programs helped them reduce healthcare costs. A survey by HealthMine, a Dallas-based healthcare technology company, found 62 percent of 750 wellness plan participants agreed the programs helped them reduce healthcare costs, while 38 percent said the programs…
Private industry employers with 100+ employees and federal contractors with 50+ employees are required to perform the following functions: 1) to report the number of employees; 2) the race, ethnic and sexual identity of the employees; and 3) identify the job category of the employees. The Form EEO-1 is due annually to the Equal Employment…
An Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) plan has the right to be reimbursed for a member’s medical expenses if that member is compensated through a third-party settlement. However, a U.S. Supreme Court decision in January 2016 means that an ERISA plan will need to act quickly to identify the appropriate funds for repayment. The…
