With each passing year, there seems to be another state attempting to accomplish what the Federal Government could not – truly universal healthcare. Vermont, Michigan, Colorado and California have all proposed legislation or embarked upon aggressive plans to enact coverage for all its residents “at little or no cost.” That is, if you fail to… [Read More]
Healthcare is No Comedy
I looked back to my November 9th, 2016 blog – yes, the day after the election. And then I reread President Trump’s powerful speech to Congress this week. Our president, it seems, really knows how to stay on track. He says exactly what he thinks over and over again and then tries to get it… [Read More]
Healthcare Reform – It’s Not as Easy as It Looks (and It Didn’t Really Look That Easy Anyway)
The IRS now says that they are not equipped to test the accuracy of ACA health information to validate the premium and cost sharing subsidies that were given out over the past years. Unbelievably, for 2015 the IRS expected 77 million Form 1095-Cs and actually got 104 million forms. And of these forms, 5.4% (or 5.6… [Read More]
Healthcare is Still Unaffordable
The year-end budget deal presently in the works further signals that President Obama’s signature legislation is in turmoil. It is rumored that the Cadillac Tax and the medical device tax will be suspended for two years, and the health insurance tax will be lifted for one year in 2017. But reducing the revenue the government… [Read More]
Healthcare Is In Even More of a Crisis Under ACA
As healthcare is restructured, the key constituencies are fortifying their positions and as can be expected, taking advantage of the renegotiation, market gyrations and general confusion. Fraud (intentional or otherwise) is rampant and uncontrolled. During a recent congressional hearing on the website, a GAO official testified about efforts to test healthcare.gov by enrolling 18 completely… [Read More]
SCOTUScare
ACA opponents will get no judicial relief as once again, the U.S. Supreme Court has rescued the Affordable Care Act. Its ruling on King v. Burwell affirmed the government’s right to allow subsidies on the federal exchange, despite the law’s wording which allows these only on “exchanges established by the states.” In his dissent, Justice… [Read More]
New York’s Surprise Healthcare Bill Will Be a Surprise to Taxpayers
New York’s “Emergency Medical Services and Surprise Bills” law is in effect as of March 31. This should be good news to consumers who might be billed for out-of-network services when care is rendered by a doctor outside the network without the patient’s knowledge or consent. The law also permits consumers to seek care from… [Read More]
The Loan Dilemma
If you have wondered whether to allow participants to take loans from their retirement plans, you’re likely not alone. On the face of it, allowing loans is a good thing because it encourages younger employees to participate in the plan when otherwise they might be afraid to tie up their assets for 30 to 40… [Read More]
Advisors Should Help When Nuances of ACA Make Your Head Spin
ACA included a host of new fees, taxes and reporting requirements. By now you have heard of the transitional reinsurance fee, the $63 per member tax which is applicable to the 2014–2016 calendar years. When benefit advisors discuss these charges, clients’ heads spin. Self-insured employers have to submit enrollment data to HHS by November 15… [Read More]
Law Firm Benefit Trends Paint Conflicted Picture
Frenkel Benefits recently released our 2013 biennial Law Firm Survey analyzing key trends emerging in the benefit programs of large law firms. In all, 51 firms participated, accounting for nearly 25,000 law firm employees and $330 million of healthcare spend. The results paint a somewhat conflicted picture as law firms race to manage plan expenses… [Read More]
