IRS proposes rules allowing HRA reimbursement of direct primary care and healthcare sharing ministry fees
The IRS has proposed regulations that would treat direct primary care arrangement (DPCA) fees as medical care or medical insurance, opening the door to their reimbursement from health reimbursement arrangements. While the proposal is unsurprising in many respects, the definitive guidance is welcome.
Employer plans and electronic communications: Good news, sort of, for employer health and welfare plans
Recent DOL guidance on electronic communications for retirement plans provides a roadmap employers may find palatable.
The Gift that Keeps on Giving: New FAQs on Wellness, Preventive Care and Mental Health Parity
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS), US Department of Labor (DOL) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the three agencies responsible for policing everyone’s two favorite laws, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and the federal mental health parity law,...
2015 HR Tech Conference Recap
Last week was the 18th Annual HR Technology Conference & Expo in Las Vegas. Our team has made attending and exhibiting at the conference an annual event. (In case you missed our previous post, read why we look forward to the conference every year.) We wanted to...
Text for Success: How to Engage Millennials in Open Enrollment
It’s that time of year that may strike fear into your heart if you work in human resources. No, I’m not talking about Halloween. For many, it’s open enrollment time. And if your employee base has a strong millennial presence, you may be struggling to figure out how to...
What exactly do you mean by analytics, anyway?
There’s no doubt you have heard a vendor or analyst drop one of HR tech’s hottest buzzwords: analytics. The term has permeated our HR tech atmosphere as of late, so much so that I’ve noticed myself starting to glaze over. So whether you’re a newbie to HR tech or just...
Yes!
A stellar communication strategy not only increases participation during open enrollment, but may even boost job satisfaction and increase employee loyalty.
Wellness Programs Are Alive and Well, Despite Rumors of Impending Demise
Are wellness programs on the decline? Do employees resent them, and do employers see their investments as a waste of time and resources? If you buy into some recently published articles, you might think the answer to all three questions is a resounding yes. Two of the...
5 Reasons I’m Excited About the 2015 HR Technology Conference
The 18th Annual HR Technology Conference is right around the corner. October 18-21, HR and IT professionals and HR technology vendors will gather at the largest industry event, held at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, Nevada. I’ve attended the conference since the early...
New Infographic: HR Tech 101
Check out this new infographic by Lockton's HR Technology and Outsourcing Practice!
Communication: It’s not just for autumn anymore
For those of us in employee benefits, fall means much more than fashion and fritters. Fall – and therefore open enrollment – also means a huge focus on employee benefits communications.
Going Mobile … We Did Your Homework for You!
Employee benefits mobile apps have been a hot topic for a few years now, but many companies are still hesitating … but why?
Waiving on Implementation
It’s that time of year again! The outside air is turning crisp. Football is on TV all weekend. And, unfortunately, not a single HR tech or benefits professional has any time to enjoy this wondrous season! After all, this is implementation time. There are project plans...
Help Me Choose vs. Help Me Use
Decision support functionality has been gaining popularity in the Benefits Administration space for quite some time. Decision support tools can be an added functionality of your existing Ben Admin system or it could be a stand-alone tool which can “bolt on” to your...