Health Reform
HHS Exchange Guidance Addresses Fee Payable by Employer Health Plans
Posted on behalf of Mark Holloway, J.D. - Senior Vice President and Co-Director - Lockton Compliance Services The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has issued proposed regulations that address the requirements that would apply to health insurance...
Supreme Court to Review Contraceptive Coverage Mandate
The Supreme Court agreed to hear a new challenge to the Affordable Care Act (ACA), this time to decide whether for-profit corporations can refuse to provide insurance coverage for birth control drugs that violate the religious beliefs of the corporations' owners. The...
If You Like Your Health Plan You Can Keep It…If the States and Your Insurer Agree
With storm clouds gathering over the White House last week as insurers cancelled or prepared to cancel millions of individual health insurance policies because the policies fail to conform to the federal health reform law, the White House blinked and offered that, if...
Republicans, Some Democrats, Call for Delay of the Individual Mandate
Health insurance-related media outlets are reporting that the wall of Democrat-based support for the federal health reform law’s “individual mandate” is beginning to crack. Some Congressional Democrats are calling for a delay in the Patient Protection and Affordable...
Judge Says New Jersey Can Begin Allowing Same-Sex Marriages on October 21st
Breaking News - Monday, October 21, 2013: Governor Chris Christie of New Jersey announced today that his administration would drop its legal challenge to allowing gay marriage in the state. Mr. Christie had sought a stay to prevent the marriages from taking place...
Waiting Periods For Insured Plans in California Limited to 60 Days
California has done the federal health reform law one better, and limited waiting periods under insured health plans to 60 days (the federal health reform law limits waiting periods to 90 days, beginning in 2014). The new rule applies to insurance contracts issued,...
Task Force Recommends New Screening Be Added To Preventive Services
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, whose recommendations determine which preventive services must be provided to health plan participants at no cost, has recommended that lung cancer screening for certain individuals be added to the list. The screening is a...
Talking to Your Employees About Health Reform Yet?
What's the best time to broach the topic of health reform with your employees? In this article from the Society of Human Resource Management, Lockton's Rick Kahle shares his expertise about having a solid plan in place, while Lockton client Yarco shares their...
Massachusetts’ Repeal of Fair Share Contribution Proceeds Despite Delay of Employer Mandate
On July 1, 2013 the Massachusetts legislature passed a bill repealing the Massachusetts Healthcare Reform Act's employer Fair Share Contribution requirement. Under the requirement, an employer that did not make a "fair and reasonable" premium contribution toward the...
Valuable Update from ABC
Our friends at the American Benefits Council often share valuable information, well worth the read. Below you’ll find some of their latest headlines. House Votes on PPACA Employer, Individual Mandates; House Subcommittee Grills Treasury Official Council Urges Issuance...
Three More States Allow Same-Sex Marriage
In the first two weeks of May, three more states -- Rhode Island, Delaware and Minnesota -- have passed bills allowing same-sex marriage. Rhode Island's governor, Lincoln Chafee, signed a same-sex marriage bill on May 2, 2013. Delaware's bill was signed on May 7,...
Labor Department Clarifies Requirements for External Appeals
Health reform requires that group health plans and health insurers comply with an external review procedure for appeals of benefit claims. In July 2010, the Department of Labor (DOL), Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and Health and Human Services (HHS) issued...
Labor Department Finalizes New MEWA Reporting Regulations
The Department of Labor (DOL) recently finalized regulations on an enhanced reporting obligation imposed by the federal health reform law primarily on multiple employer welfare arrangements (MEWAs). A MEWA is an employee welfare benefit plan providing benefits to...
Free Pass for Expat Plans…at Least Partially So
Life just got a lot easier under the federal health reform law, for expatriate coverage. Expat coverage has been subject to a confusing patchwork of special rules and exceptions under several key portions of the law, such as certain benefit and administrative...
Lockton Expert is Panelist at Feb. 19 Health Reform Symposium
Lockton's Ed Fensholt, J.D. , Senior Vice President and Director, Compliance Services is part of the upcoming Health Reform Symposium on Tuesday, February 19, 2013 in Overland Park, Kansas - sponsored by the Kansas City Business Journal. The event promises to help...