2016 Federal Budget Delays ACA’s Cadillac Tax & Suspends Two Other Taxes

Matt BauerEmployee Benefits, Health Insurance

On Dec. 18, 2015, President Barack Obama signed a federal budget bill for 2016 into law, which makes significant changes to three tax provisions under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). This new law: Delays implementation of the ACA’s Cadillac tax on high-cost group health coverage for two years, until 2020 Imposes a one-year moratorium on the collection of the ACA’s … Read More

Obesity: The numbers (and costs) are staggering

Dave SinclairEmployee Benefits, Health Insurance, Risk Management, Workers Compensation

I’ll start with a piece of good news: the smoking rate among United States adults declined from 20.9% in 2005 to 17.8% in 2013. There’s still a ways to go, but at least the numbers are moving in the right direction. Now, the (very) bad news: Americans are snuffing out the cigarettes but apparently picking up the cheesecake, because more … Read More

Make men’s health a conversation starter this ‘Movember’

Shannon HudspethEmployee Benefits, Health Insurance, Human Resources

Men are from Mars, women are from Venus, and gender stereotypes are for a different, less egalitarian era. But one stereotype about men really is true: as a whole, males are much more likely than females to avoid doctors, skip out on routine screenings, and pass on preventative care. Men often don’t see a doctor until real damage is done. … Read More

2015 Draft Instructions for 6055 and 6056 Reporting Include Filing Extensions

Jill GouletBusiness Insurance, Employee Benefits, Health Insurance

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) created new reporting requirements under Internal Revenue Code (Code) Sections 6055 and 6056. Under these new reporting rules, certain employers must provide information to the IRS about the health plan coverage they offer (or do not offer) or provide to their employees. Reporting is first required in 2016, related to coverage offered or provided in … Read More

Wellness programs: So much more than losing weight

Dave SinclairBusiness Insurance, Employee Benefits, Health Insurance, Risk Management

More and more companies are instituting wellness programs in the workplace, and it’s no surprise, given that 92% of owners say they are effective, with real, measurable ROI. Wellness programs are about more than just passively encouraging employees to exercise and watch what they eat (though research shows that is a very positive objective)! A robust, well-rounded  wellness program provides … Read More

Massachusetts Earned Sick Time Law effective July 1, 2015

Shannon HudspethEmployee Benefits, Health Insurance, Human Resources

On Nov. 4, 2014, Massachusetts voters approved a ballot measure, known as the “Massachusetts Paid Sick Days Initiative,” to provide earned paid sick leave to employees.The Earned Sick Time Law is effective July 1, 2015, and generally covers all employers in Massachusetts. However, employers must comply with existing collective bargaining agreements or contracts that have more generous leave provisions. On … Read More

Getting the Right CT Home Healthcare Providers Insurance

EditorHealth Insurance

Getting the Right CT Home Healthcare Providers Insurance   With a large percentage of the American population aging, and rising costs of healthcare and hospital treatment, many consumers are seeking alternative ways to care for sick, ailing and disabled family members. This has created a high demand for accessibility to healthcare in the home environment. Home healthcare is the fastest … Read More

CT Hospital Insurance: Lessons from the Dallas Ebola Case

EditorHealth Insurance

CT Hospital Insurance: Lessons from the Dallas Ebola Case  Is the American healthcare system ready for an epidemic? That’s the question on almost everyone’s mind after the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently confirmed that a man officially diagnosis as having the Ebola virus is being treated at a hospital in Dallas Texas. The diagnosis is the … Read More

Healthcare Industry Risk Management: Are We Adapting to Telemedicine?

EditorHealth Insurance, Risk Management

Healthcare Industry Risk Management: Are We Adapting to Telemedicine? According to industry analysts, telemedicine has the potential to deliver more than $6 billion a year in healthcare savings to U.S. businesses, yet healthcare providers seem somewhat reluctant to adopted telemedicine into their practices. In their recently released poll, the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) conducted an inquiry into … Read More

Connecticut Workers Compensation: Fighting Prescription Abuse

EditorHealth Insurance

Connecticut Workers Compensation: Fighting Prescription Abuse Even with today’s decreased payrolls and difficulties in the job market, businesses still spend a lot of money on Workers Compensation. And a growing contributor to unnecessary healthcare and workers comp costs is the increasingly widespread abuse of prescription painkillers. The abuse of painkillers is an escalating problem. First, there are immediate health concerns. … Read More